Vent/Gossip

"A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)

I read this verse in another devotional today and it hit me that sometimes we vent our feelings to people for various reasons. Sometimes we want to validated for how we are feeling. You know get your friends all on your side. Other times we are so upset that we just can't find it in ourselves to stop from venting.

Other times still we vent for the sake of making sure that others know what we are feeling and that someone has hurt us. In that process we have shared pain and gossip.

I am guilty of this. I have had to try hard to keep my tongue in situations and at times have not been successful. I remember a time at work that I vented my feelings about how much time a project took that I was working on because I didn't have the help of a co-worker. While I wanted a little praise for work well done, I really wanted my boss to know that I did all the work and that the other person did not do their part.

I pray that I don't vent my feelings but process them and hold my words until when and where it is wise. I don't want to bring myself or another down from my vent feelings.

Becky Sosa 9/23/2010