‘’ Mind Your Own Business’’
By: Lynne Conley

Scripture Text:   But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. (1st Peter 4:15 KJV)


We all influence people every day of our lives.  What kind of influence are we having on people? A busy body is: an officious or inquisitive person (Merriam Webster) The busy body is someone, male or female, that needs to know everyone's business and everything that is going on around him or her or can be a person who tends to throw their opinions and judgments on someone else. We all have been so guilty throwing our two cents in when really it’s none of our business. ‘’A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends’’. (Proverbs 16:28 KJV)  Many of good friendships have been ruined by someone else. Sadly, some people thrive on hurting people and destroying other people’s lives. When a person is confronted with their wrongdoing, they will deny having any part of it. When admitting the wrong was done, they will blame someone else - never admitting they are in the wrong by hurting someone with their hurtful words. A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor. Within a few days the whole community knew the story. The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended. Later the woman responsible for spreading the rumor learned that it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old sage to find out what she could do to repair the damage. "Go to the marketplace," he said, "and purchase a chicken, and have it killed. Then on your way home, pluck its feathers and drop them one by one along the road." Although surprised by this advice, the woman did what she was told. The next day the wise man said, "Now go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me." The woman followed the same road, but to her dismay, the wind had blown the feathers all away. After searching for hours, she returned with only three in her hand. "You see," said the old sage, "it's easy to drop them, but it's impossible to get them back. So it is with gossip. It doesn't take much to spread a rumor, but once you do, you can never completely undo the wrong." ~ Author Unknown.  Even though this is just a story, it has so much meaning and is so true. When we are a busy body and interfering in other people’s business, we have to think of the consequences for they are not reversible.