You hear it in the coffee shop, the grocery store, the break room.  In your own home you hear it.  You might even hear it coming out, unpracticed, of your own mouth.  Gossip.  Carrying a tale twice removed.  Complaint.  Telling a terrible tale that begins with, “You wouldn’t BELIEVE what so and so was seen doing…” and then carry on, attempting to persuade the listener to believe.

WHAT IF – we focused on what WENT RIGHT instead of what went wrong?  What if the tale you carried was a story of goodness. WHAT IF you, today, were a witness to grace?  I remember a nurse wearing a sticker that read, “CAUGHT IN THE ACT of doing something right.”  Although it has been years, I can remember that the colors were yellow and pink.  Cheerful colors for a cheerful, gracious action.  My friend and author, Kathleen Everett, frequently reminds herself and me, “Reward the behavior that you want to see again.”  Instead of honoring poor behavior by giving it your time and attention and tale…reward positive behavior.  Tell the tale of goodness seen and be an active witness to grace.

Let me know how it feels.