Gossip

by Lucy M. Young

God gave us ears that we might hear
The songs of birds, a gentle breeze in the whispering pines
The rush and roar of a waterfall,
A softly babbling brook.

He gave us ears to hear the happy voices
Of children playing in the grass
The pleasant cheerful words of friends
Who seek to comfort and make known to us their love.

He gave us ears to hear the thrilling rhapsody
Of symphonies and choral groups
That fill our souls with joyful harmony
And peace found nowhere else.

He did not give us ears to hear
Malicious gossip about one another
But He did give us minds to disregard
Ignore, destroy, and forget
Whatever evil thoughts were given voice
And passed around.

May God forgive the originators of such thoughts
And close the ears and mouths
Of all who might be tempted
To listen and repeat such worthless prattle.