Jealousy And Gossip

jealous |ˈjeləs| adjectivefeeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages:he grew jealous of her success.
gossip |ˈɡäsəp| nouncasual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true: he became the subject of much local gossip.
It is that time of year again. New clothes have been bought. Supplies have been packed. The tardy bell is about to ring. A new school year begins. Along with it comes Friday night lights, marching bands, cheerleaders, dance teams, cross country, basketball, baseball, volleyball, homework, tests and all the rest. 
You can bet your bottom dollar at some point jealousy and gossip will rear their ugly heads in the very near future. Social media will be used to embarrass, harass, humiliate, and isolate helpless victims. Bullying will commence, as those at the top of the pecking order, start picking off defenseless prey and attacking viciously. Others will pounce as well until the victim is defeated. 
Drama will fill the air as relationships are strained and severed. There will be backstabbing, blackballing, and backbiting. Some will be two faced, pretending to be a friend in one moment, and then running down others behind their backs. 
Rumors will surface. They will spread like wild fire even if they are not true. Juicy unsubstantiated gossip will be whispered in hushed tones. It will spread. The strong love to beat down the weak and defenseless. 
Jealousy and gossip will follow in the sports arena. One will get mad over the starters and the bench sitters. Others will accuse the coaches of playing favorites or not having an eye for "good talent" when they see it. Individual statistics will become more important than team success. People will be out for themselves. Arm chair quarterbacks will sit in the stands voicing their opinions about the play calling and personnel on the field making themselves look foolish in the process. 
If you think I am talking about students you would be wrong. I am talking about adults. Parents. Parents who are jealous of other students. Parents who are jealous of other parents. Parents who connive, manipulate, pump other students for gossip, throw others under the bus if it makes their child look better. 
I'm talking about the good old boys. Those who appear righteous publicly but in secret have no integrity. Those who will smile and shake your hand and ten run you down with gossip the first chance they get. I used to think only women gossiped. I was wrong. Men gossip at places like coffee shops, barber shops, cafes, meetings, and across barbed wire fences. They huddle at games and other school activities shooting the bull. The only bull they often shoot is spreading gossip at the expense of the unsuspecting.
Women are certainly not exempt. They befriend students to learn who did what over the weekend. They want all the details. If certain ones slip up these women will go straight to the proper authorities to inform while turning a blind eye to the same actions by the privileged few. Rules will be bent for the privileged. These privileged will not be held accountable for breaking the same rules. Jealous gossiping women will be behind the scenes pulling the strings like puppet masters causing much drama. 
Hypocrisy will abound. So called Christians will be at the root of much of the jealousy and gossip. Parents acting like children. Parents trying to live their pathetic lives through their children or grandchildren. Petty people jockeying for position in a contest where few others are even competing. 
After enjoying the sanctuary and solace of the summer the jealousy and gossip are set to make their annual debut in the upcoming school year. Parents will be cruel. Gossip will be unrelenting. Jealousy will steal the joy from many. Instead of celebrating the successes of all children some will seethe in bitter envy enslaved to jealousy. 
The in crowd will congregate. The outsiders will not be accepted. Surrounded by this turmoil are some good parents, willing to serve, supportive of all children, kind, warm, filled with grace, and love. These are the safe haven. These are the safe place. These are the people who can be trusted. Thank God for such people. Their character stands taller than the jealous and gossipers. These are the followers of Jesus living to model His life in private and in public. These are the ones who ignore petty people and their silly childish games. Such people are rock solid. They can be counted on. They are the backbone of any community though they may not be the most vocal nor the most visible. 
Such people guard secrets to the grave. They celebrate everyone's achievements and successes. These good and decent folks never stir up drama. They may have actually been the recipients of jealousy and gossip themselves and empathize with the latest victims. Praise God for such people. These good and decent folks will sit quietly at school functions. They will be kind to all. Yet they see right through the facade, the phoniness, the presence, and the two faced of jealous gossipers. 
Welcome to another school year.