"Keep your nose to yourself." That's what my stepmother said to me when I asked too many questions about something that did not concern me. "Mind your own business."
We kids would say to one another, "It's none of your bees-wax." I have absolutely no clue why we said that. But it meant the same thing. As a sister to four brothers, I learned the hard way that talking about stuff that does not concern me can get me in all kinds of trouble--not to mention the damage it can do to others.
I've had times in my life when I talk to someone about something of concern to them and, out of the clear blue sky, they begin telling me all kinds of unrelated things that have nothing at all to do with me or them. Not long ago someone did that to a friend of mine. They insisted that my friend needed to know this "stuff". "To be aware."
If you ask me, my friend should beware of those quick to carry a tale and share tidbits of knowledge that are really unnecessary to share.
"A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly." Proverbs 12:23
My husband is one of those "prudent men". He keeps so much to himself that he forgets to tell me stuff my daughter intends for him to tell me. That's okay; at least he doesn't have the heart of fools.
I don't know. What do you think? Seems to me that it is inappropriate to even listen to another's speculations and off-the-record news-reports of individuals you hardly know. I see that happening a lot on the social-media connections we have today. Some "friends" are really not friends at all. And too many public conversations should probably remain private. So much can get lost in translation.
Do you ever wonder if folks want to befriend you just to gather what they suppose is inside info on a particular situation or person?
Do you think most trouble comes from joining conversations which do not concern us? It kinda reminds me of blowing dandelion seeds in the wind. No telling where a seed will come down and take root.
I'm just guessing, but I believe if I did a bit more research, I'd find some scripture that warns me of such conversations. Maybe my husband is right. Maybe we need to go back to the days of walking the neighborhoods and getting to know one another by stopping to chat on the front porch. If only houses had more porches. selahV for Today
