What Does Love Do With What I Know About Another Person?
Gossip is about far more than words. It touches how we see one another, how we love one another, and how the world sees Jesus through us. In these three blogs, we'll look at what Love does when another person's story finds its way into our hands.
When Someone's Story Is In My Hands
Knowing When To Speak And When To Protect
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
Handle With Love
There are moments when someone trusts us with a tender part of their story—a failure, a struggle, a hurting relationship, or something they're simply not ready for everyone else to know.
When someone trusts us that deeply, Love teaches us to hold their story with the same tenderness we would want them to hold ours.
Covering Isn't Covering Up
Peter tells us that love covers.
I don't believe that means Love hides abuse, danger, dishonesty, or something that needs appropriate help.
Covering up protects the problem, while covering in love protects the person, allowing truth and healing to do their work.
Sometimes Love keeps a confidence or simply sits quietly and listens.
Other times Love has a private conversation that would be much easier to avoid.
And there are times when Love seeks appropriate help because protecting someone means refusing to keep a secret that is harming them or someone else.
A Question Before We Share
I've heard Christians say, “I'm not gossiping; I'm just sharing so you can pray.”
I've probably done it myself.
Prayer doesn't require me to tell someone else's story when it isn't mine to tell.
Before I speak, there is a simple question worth asking:
What does Love do with what I know about this person?
Love doesn't begin by asking, “Can I tell this?” Love considers what will protect, heal, restore, and honor the person Abba loves.
A Safe Place For Someone's Story
There is something beautiful about becoming a person others know they can trust with the tender places of their lives.
We won't always know immediately whether to remain quiet, have a private conversation, or seek appropriate help.
That's where we need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the heart of our Father.
But we can begin here: another person's story is never ours to use. It has been entrusted to us, and Love teaches us to hold it with the same tenderness we hope someone would hold ours.
Reflection
Am I someone others can trust with the tender parts of their story?
When should Love remain quiet, and when does Love require me to speak?
Would sharing this protect and restore, or simply expose?
Prayer
Abba Father, teach me to hold the stories of others with Your tenderness, wisdom, and love. Amen.