Let's Hear it Again - The Whisper that Grew Legs

A repeat of one of the most popular episodes.

New episodes beginning again next week as we are in Kenya this week.

Transcript

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Welcome to the Jones Family Chronicles. For life at school, home and church is always full of lessons, laughter and love. Meet Dad, the school principal, Mom, the heart of the home, and their five bright and lively kids. Alice, Addis, Mama, Ava Grace, and Little Andy, who somehow always managed to turn ordinary days into extraordinary adventures. So gather round, open your heart, and let's discover together the joy of faith, family, and the timeless truth of God's word. This is the Jones Family Chronicles. Okay, kids, gather close. Papa has a story for you about your favorite family The Joneses. It was an ordinary Thursday morning at the Jones household, which really meant it was anything but ordinary. Four children getting ready for school is like trying to herd popcorn. One colonel pops over here, another shoots across the room, and poor mom just tries to keep the lid on the pan. Alison, the bossy ten year old, was in the kitchen holding a clipboard like a general, about to march into battle. All right, troops, she announced, we need shoes tied, lunches packed, hair brushed in the next five minutes. Let's move, move, move. Addison, who was carefully matching her pink headband with her sparkly shoes, rolled her eyes. You don't have to be so bossy. I am moving. But fashion takes time. Anna, the six year old, zipped by like a hummingbird. I'm ready, I'm ready. Wait, I forgot my backpack, no wait, I forgot my snack. No wait, I forgot what I forgot. Meanwhile, Ava Grace, the five year old, was gently holding Andy's chubby little hand, whispering, It's okay, Andy. Don't listen to the chaos. We'll just be calm. Andy, who was a year and a half old and enjoying the attention of four doting sisters, grinned like he had just been crowned king. Dad, principal of the Christian school, walked in with his Bible under his arm. Good morning, family. Remember, attitudes are contagious, so make sure yours is worth catching. That was ironic, because in just a few hours someone else's words were about to spread through the school like the flu. It started at recess. Alison had been practicing her spelling words with a friend when Anna came running up out of breath. You'll never believe what I heard, she blurted out. Now when Anna says those words, there's a ninety nine percent chance you really shouldn't believe it. What is it, Alison? asked suspiciously. Anna leaned in close. Addison told Emily that she saw a mouse in the teacher's lounge. And guess what? It ate Sister Banda's sandwich. Alison gasped. No way. Anna nodded vigorously. Yes way. And Addison said she's never eating anywhere near there again. Ever. She might even faint if she gets close. Of course, Addison hadn't said any of this. What she had said was I think Sister Bandis' sandwich smelled like cheese while standing near the teacher's lounge. But by the time Anna's version finished doing a lapse around the playground, the story had grown legs, a tail, and whiskers. By lunch everyone in the school knew there was a mouse in the teacher's lounge. Sister Banda had screamed and Addison had fainted dramatically while clutching her sparkly shoes. Poor Addison had no idea. She was just busy retying her hair ribbon. The story spread with the speed of a sneeze in flu season. By the second recess, younger kids were whispering There's a family of mice in the lounge. By third period, someone claimed the mice had chewed through the teacher's grade book, and by the end of the day a kindergartner told his mom Addison saw a rat the size of a dog. It was a perfect example of Proverbs eighteen and eight. The words of a gossip are like tasty morsels. They go down to the innermost parts. Everyone likes a juicy story, and this one well it had plenty of juice. After lunch, Addison walked into class only to be greeted by whispers. There she is, the fainting fashionista one voice said with a snicker. Another whispered I heard she screamed louder than the fire alarm. Addison blinked. What are you talking about? The whispers grew until Addison finally turned to Alison. Did you tell people I fainted? Alison shook her head. No. But Anna told me something about a mouse. At that moment Anna bounced into the room. Hi everybody. Did you hear the Anna? Alison and Addison shouted together. What? she said innocently. Where did you get that story? Addison demanded. Anna tapped her chin. Well, I might have heard you say something about cheese, and then I might have added the part about the mouse, and then um the fainting part just sounded fun. Addison's eyes filled with tears. Now everybody thinks I'm a scaredy cat. Even Ava Grace, sweet and gentle, frowned. Anna, that wasn't very kind. The Bible says our words are supposed to build people up, not tear them down. Dad had walked in just in time to hear that last line, and he nodded solemnly. Ephesians four and twenty nine, Ava. You're exactly right. Words can encourage or they can hurt. And gossip? Well, gossip is like planting a weed in someone else's garden. It grows fast and chokes out the truth. Anna's shoulders slumped. I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I just thought it was funny. Gossip always seems funny at first, Dad said gently. But once it spreads, it's like toothpaste out of the tube. You just can't put it back in. The next day, Addison hoped the whispers had died down. But gossip has a long shelf life. During math class, a boy passed her a note that read Don't let the mouse scare you. Addison sighed. Oh this is never going away. At recess she overheard two girls talking. I heard Addison scream so loud the janitor dropped his mop. That's nothing, said the other. My cousin's friend said Addison jumped on top of a table and wouldn't come down. Addison wanted to crawl under the slide and disappear. Later that afternoon, Sister Banda herself pulled Addison aside. Sweetheart, did you faint in the teacher's lounge? Addison's eyes went wide. No. I never even went in there. Sister Banda chuckled. That's what I thought. Just checking. She patted Addison's shoulder kindly. Rumors can sure get out of hand, can't they? Addison nodded miserably. That afternoon, Addison sat quietly at her desk, still upset. Anna scribbled a note and slid it across. It read I'm sorry, will you forgive me? Addison picked up her pencil and wrote back Yes, but no more my stories. Anna grinned sheepishly. But Addison wasn't the only one Anna had to face. That evening Dad called a family meeting in the living room. All right, Jones Crew, he said. We need to talk about what happened. Anna wiggled uncomfortably. I know, Dad said, and that's a good start. But sometimes sorry isn't enough. Gossip spreads like a virus, and just saying sorry to one person doesn't stop the whole outbreak. You need to clear things up with the people you told. Anna gulped. All of them? All of them, Dad confirmed. The next day, Anna marched up to Alison and Addison's classmates at recess. Attention, everybody, she shouted, waving her arms. I have an announcement. There is no mouse in the teacher's lounge. Addison never fainted. I made it all up, and I am really sorry. There was a long pause. Then one boy asked, So there's really no mouse? Nope, Anna said firmly. Another girl sighed. Well, that's boring. Anna threw up her hands. That's the problem with gossip. It's exciting, but it's not true, and it hurts people. Addison smiled faintly. Thanks, Anna. At chapel the next day, Dad gave a short talk. When we speak about others we have two choices. We can spread gossip or we can spread grace. Gossip makes us look big by making others look small, but grace reminds us that everyone is valuable and loved by God. He pulled out a tube of toothpaste and squeezed it onto a paper plate. Can anyone put this back in the tube? The students all giggled and shook their heads. That's what gossip is like, Dad explained. Once it's out, you can't undo it. That's why we need to think before we speak. That night at Family Devotion, Mom asked, So what did we all learn this week? Alison answered first. Don't believe everything you hear, Addison chimed in. Don't tell stories that aren't true. Honestide. Don't exaggerate, even if it sounds exciting. Ava Grace smiled. Be kind with your words. And Andy, who had no idea what was going on, yelled Mouse which sent everyone into laughter. Dad closed his Bible. Proverbs sixteen twenty eight says a perverse person stirs up conflict and a gossip separates close friends, but when we speak truth with love, we draw people together instead of pushing them apart. Mom leaned in with her motherly wisdom. So remember, Jones family. Let's not be a family of whispers. Let's be a family of encouragers. Agreed, said Alison. Agreed, said Addison. Agreed, said Anna, though she had to bite her tongue. Agreed, said Ava Grace. Andy just clapped his hands and shouted Stinky Feet and the Jones family laughed, knowing that even when mistakes are made, forgiveness and kindness always win the day. Now who's ready for brownies?