Need facts with your gossip? Proverbs 18:13

Good morning all!!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!
   Okay, friend, I may step on your toes slightly, maybe a whole bunch here.  Do you....or do you know people who jump to quick conclusions before they get the facts??  Yep, I think we have all done this.  You hear something and then make a quick decision on what "little" you know.  Or, possibly you see something, jump to a conclusion, share these facts with someone else, and.......wah laa......you were wrong AND spreading gossip.  For instance you see a good friend in a nice restaurant dining with someone other than their spouse.  Yeah! And what thoughts rage through your mind?  Un huh!  What are the facts?  Just like Dragnet, just the facts ma'am, just the facts!
     Proverbs 18:13 "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."
Basically, one would be spouting off before listening to the facts.  This is shameful, harmful, and wrong.  You hear the old cliche` of there are two sides to every story.  We need to get the facts first, be open to possibilities, hear both sides, then pray for the wisdom of Solomon.
    Proverbs 18:14 "The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?"
Wow!  Think about this before you speak or share some "news" about someone.  Spending 34 years in public education I have experienced this.  Someone gets mad at you, don't have all the facts, then shares or "gossips" with others and when the news gets back to you, you are crushed.  It does crush the spirit, mainly because you know it is false and you don't understand why someone would say or do these things.
    Today, 21st Century, it is even worse.  People will put on facebook, tweet, or use some other form of social media, information that is hurtful and untrue.  And what recourse does one have?  We can rebuke it, but isn't it interesting how people will hear the first lie and believe it over the truth?  Hmmm!  Could this be man's evil nature  lunging through?
  Just remember:  Proverbs 18:17 "He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him."
  The first to speak sounds right, until the cross-examination begin.  So where do you sit today?  In the gossip section or the truth section?  Hearing part of the story is like reading the first part of a mystery; you just don't have enough facts to make a good decision.  Gather the facts, don't jump to conclusions, and avoid crushing someones spirit if possible.  Just food for thought.  Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
  Johnny