This morning we had lots of fun catching up with some old friends at the park. We met the Bryant family 3 years ago and became fast friends. Unfortunately, our preschool schedules this year have conflicted in such a way that prevented us from getting together for play dates. Since the boys are both on Spring Break this week we were finally able to work something out. It was a beautiful day to be at the park!
The fun was interrupted, briefly, by an unfortunate encounter with an older child on the playground. I was across the playground, but because C wears his emotions on his face, I could tell that the encounter with the older boy wasn't going well. As I began to walk over, I notice G standing right beside C pointing and yelling something back at the other child. When I caught up with C and G they explained that the other child told C to "shut up" to which G yelled back in C's defense "POOPIE!" (NICE...that's my classy girl!) C then went on to say that the boy was NOT his friend and he wanted him to get hurt.
I explained to C and G that we should love others (even those who aren't nice to us), not wish them harm. We talked a little bit about Jesus' example...people said some VERY unkind (and untrue) things to Him, particularly in the week preceding his crucifixion, yet He responded with grace and ultimately forgiveness (Luke 23: 34-38). I wish I could say that C came to a place of peace and forgiveness with the offending child...but not so much...not yet, anyway :)
At any rate, as I look back on that incident I realized two things:
#1 - It REALLY bothers me when other children are unkind to my kiddos! Hello, Mama Bear...where did SHE come from?!? Apparently, I need to keep reminding myself of the aforementioned truth of Jesus' example :)
and
#2 - Though I don't condone her actions/potty words, it is nice to see that G IS loyal to her brother when the going gets rough (despite what the never-ending arguments, crying, and tattling might have you to believe :)
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