'a little bird told me'

Did he indeed! This is an expression people often use to describe how they heard news when they don't want to tell you who told them.

It may surprise you to know that the expression comes from the Bible. Here is it's origin: 'Curse not the king, no, not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber; for a little bird of the air shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter', Ecclesiastes 10.20.

Solomon's instructions here tell us to beware what we say for we do not know who may overhear us and report our speech. If we say something treasonable - cursing the king - or foolish - speaking evil of the powerful - we may land ourselves in serious trouble. And this advice is as up-to-date as is possible. How many people have denied saying something, only to find someone recorded what they said on a mobile and publish it for all the world to hear! So many politicians have been caught out and had egg on their faces. 'Little birds' are everywhere.

There are two things to consider here. First of all, we should avoid giving anyone cause to gossip. The tongue is a dangerous instrument. It causes so much trouble. 'A talebearer reveals secrets', Proverbs 11.13; 'death and life are in the power of the tongue', Proverbs 18.21. Little Miss Gossip is a busy lady and so is our little bird. Be careful what you say, even when you think no-one is listening. You don't know who is behind the door, on the other side of an open window, or just out of sight but not out of earshot. Don't say something behind someone's back that you would not say to their face or you may be embarrassed to hear it repeated. Walls have ears and so have little birds.

The second thing to be aware of is that we should not repeat gossip. We should never break a confidence, never sow discord and we should remember that, if we have overheard someone, we may not have overheard everything they said, we may not be sure of the context and we must be careful not to misinterpret or misunderstand. Someone else's reputation may be at risk. Be careful what you say and be careful what you repeat about others. That 'little bird' has caused so much trouble. Don't be part of it.