A friend was feeling sad. Someone had been spreading false accusations about her, and it was hard to ignore. Some people avoided her, others seemed confused, but did not ask. My heart ached for the loneliness of being slandered. 

There are three players in the scenario. One does the talking. A second is the culprit of those stories. The last is the person who hears it. It seemed to matter to my friend that I was listening, and spending time with her. But it weighed on her. There is no graceful way to track down rumors.

"Did you hear bad things about me? Can I tell you my side?"

I pondered times when I have been on that troubling not so merry go round. When have I been the one spreading a bad report, with no way to limit the reach? I once heard gossip compared to throwing feathers in the wind. An apology does little to mitigate their fling. Then there were instances when I was swayed by a hushed conversation. 
 

"Did you hear about...?"

I regret swallowing those toxins, like downing a drink without knowing the source. I feel grateful for the chance to look into the eyes of someone who has been mistreated, to memorize the pain in her voice. Maybe it will keep me from being a cause of such hurt. 

May I hang on to the words in my mouth, saving them for those chances given me to lift people up.