3 March 2008
Honking Horns and Stomping Feet
Posted by Michelle under: Communication and Meaning; Emotions; .
The other day while we were driving a car beside us honked his horn in anger at the car who was not moving to turn right, in spite of a clear ability to do so. David asked why the man honked.
I told him that some people honk to communicate and some honk when they are angry. If a driver is changing lanes and doesn’t see me, I’ll honk so he knows I’m beside him. If I’m at a stop light and the person in front of me doesn’t see that the light is green, I might honk to help him look up and go.
I thought of a brilliant comparison, since I had observed it that morning. When people honk because they are angry, it’s a lot like children who stomp their feet when they are angry.
At this, Bethel told us that she likes to stomp her feet, and David observed that it was possible to stomp feet and not be angry.
Right. What makes it right or wrong is what we are thinking. If you stomp your feet because you are angry, that’s bad. If you’re stomping your feet because you are happy, that’s okay. Same as honking your horn, it depends on what a person is thinking.
I would have liked to have tied the conversation to Philippians 4:8, but I got distracted, I think. Next time I’ll be ready. Still, it was a good conversation. I think they understood.
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