How do I stop this?

[pam4him]

   Hi to all of you!
     I am new on the board and I am glad that I can talk to other Christians! Can anyone help? A relative who I am very close to talks about people a lot and I want to find a way to tell her (in love) about it. She is really sensitive and probably would be hurt by my comments...I don't want this to happen, but it's hard to be around her. She is a Christian and attends the same church as I do.
    I read the posts on gossip- They are so right on the mark!What do you suggest? I do not want her to be offended.
    Thank you all for any and all help!
      In Christ,
       Pam

[Shammu]

1Corinthians 13:5 "Love...thinks no evil..."

The Christian who gossips doesn't really care about others, especially the ones they're gossiping about. They really care more about themselves. They just want to have juicy information to attract others to themselves. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:3, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4, Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

Paul also said in Romans15:2, "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification." Only words of edification, building up should come out of your mouth as Paul also teaches in Ephesians 4:29, " Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

Only Good words!

Only Encouraging words!

No tearing down words!

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Wow! That means if I don't want people gossiping about me, She shouldn't do it either!

[sincereheart]

  Hi to all of you!
     I am new on the board and I am glad that I can talk to other Christians! Can anyone help? A relative who I am very close to talks about people a lot and I want to find a way to tell her (in love) about it. She is really sensitive and probably would be hurt by my comments...I don't want this to happen, but it's hard to be around her. She is a Christian and attends the same church as I do.
    I read the posts on gossip- They are so right on the mark!What do you suggest? I do not want her to be offended.
    Thank you all for any and all help!
      In Christ,
       Pam

Sounds like she's just gotten into a habit of it!   How I handle it in real life depends on the person/situation. And I can tell you that it rarely goes over well initially!  

If I can change the subject, I do. That works a lot of the time. When that doesn't work, I try to bring up something good about the person being spoken of. That also usually works. When that one doesn't, I tell the person that I'm not comfortable listening to gossip. That one always works but it does cause hard feelings no matter how gently you state it! Though there have been times that I've been thanked - it's always MUCH later!  

That's when it's happening! What I prefer is to converse about my own problem with gossip with the person before it starts!

It's hardest when it's a family member! But then I just have to remind myself that I answer to God and that does make it easier!