Daily Devotionals
Devotional: 11th of Adar
Anyone who slanders is a fool (Proverbs 10:18).
A wise religious teacher headed a small community where one man caused problems by his gossip. The gossip turned into backbiting and slander, and his venomous remarks hurt his victims. Many complained to the teacher, who summoned the slanderer.
The accused appeared to be very remorseful. He apologized to the teacher and seemed ready for penance. The teacher said, "I want you to take your pillow case, fill it with feathers, and bring it to me." Thinking that this was his penalty, he obeyed. The teacher then said, "Now I want you take this pillow case filled with feathers to the top of the nearby mountain and empty it." He readily obeyed and watched as the many feathers were carried by the wind and tossed about the mountainside. Some fell upon the rocks on the side of the mountain; some floated to the ground at the bottom of the mountain; still others were carried off into the distance. He returned to the teacher and reported that he had completed the discipline. Then the wise teacher said, "Now I want you to find every feather and return it to the pillow case."
It's easy to slander a person, and to say "I'm sorry" when you get caught. But it's impossible to undo the damage that has been done.
...use my tongue to say nice things about others.
EK
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