Horn Honkers

Read: Psalm 75:4-7; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

HONK! Honk-honk-HONK! The horn on Jace’s tricycle was making an awful racket. Mya clapped her hands over her ears as she came in from school. “You’re hurting my ears with all that honking!”

“Jace,” Mom said, “let Mya help you take your tricycle to the playroom in the basement.”

“But I wanna ride up here!” Jace wailed.

Mya picked up the tricycle and started for the stairs. “Blow it all you want in the basement where it won’t bother anybody.”

When Mya came back, she said, “Now I can tell you my news, Mom. I’ve been promoted to the advanced math class! Only five percent of the kids make that class.”

Mom came over to give her a hug. “Congratulations, honey!”

Mya beamed. “And my art teacher told me she wants me to enter one of my projects in a competition for kids my age. She thinks I might win an award!”

“That’s great!” said Mom. “I hope you win!”

“Me too. I think I will—the other kids’ projects weren’t nearly as good as mine. Now I just need to tell my friends! Oh, and I need to tell them I’m going to see a Broadway show with you and Dad in New York next month. They’ll be so jealous!”

“Mya,” Mom said, “that’s enough. You’re hurting my ears!”

Mya looked puzzled. “But Mom, I’m not talking that loud.”

“No, but you’re blowing your own horn, and it’s getting louder and louder.”

“What do you mean, Mom? I just want to share my news with my friends.”

“I know,” said Mom. “But there’s a difference between sharing an accomplishment or opportunity you’re excited about and bragging because you think you’re better than others. God has given you many blessings, like a sharp mind your teachers have helped you develop. But He wants you to use those blessings to point others to Jesus, not brag about how great you are. When none of us could save ourselves from sin, Jesus came and died for us. He’s the one who deserves our praise, not us.”

Mom smiled as the faint sound of a tricycle horn drifted up the stairs. “If you’re going to honk your own horn, do it in the basement.”

“No thanks,” said Mya. “I don’t want to sound anything like that!”

–Barbara J. Westberg

How about you? Do you like to hear people brag? Do you brag yourself? It’s great to accomplish something difficult or receive a special opportunity, so go ahead and be excited when that happens. But don’t brag. Thank God for the blessings He’s given you, and remember that He wants you to use your accomplishments and opportunities to show people the love of Jesus.

Today's Key Verse: Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth. Proverbs 27:2 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Don’t blow your own horn