Best Friends

Since Davis was little we have always referred to the children at the park or church or wherever as 'friends.' We wanted him to treat them as such. However, the other day Davis learned that not everyone is a friend.  : (
There were two little boys.  One was his size, but clearly older based on his vocabulary, attitude, and the size of the other kid he was playing with, although i don't think Davis knew this. He tagged along with them and although they mostly played together, they also didn't seem to mind that Davis was there. Then they got into a little spat and the smaller one walked off. Davis started following him around. The little boy asked him are you following me? Then he said don't follow me. Davis said, yeah, i follow you! And the kid said loudly, no, DON'T follow me! Davis stood there a little stunned and then went down the slide and played a bit and then slowly, nonchalantly, sauntered over to us. I saw the whole thing and prayed it would roll right off him. And you know what?  It didn't seem to phase him much.
I, however, was in tears later talking to C about it!  Having a child is like having your own heart walking around in this little body (or multiple little bodies if you have more than one.)  When they hurt, or even just the thought of them being hurt, you hurt.  I just want Davis to be liked and i want to protect his little heart from all the meanness this world has to offer, but i can't! He is going to get hurt someday. It is inevitable. It's going to happen. Thankfully this wasn't the day. I know the day will also come when mommy's kisses won't make the hurt go away. Thankfully we aren't there yet either (except kissing his bare bottom like this morning can get a little ridiculous!)
We  chose to use this as a teachable moment to tell Davis that not everyone is a friend,  but how special he is to us and to Jesus. Over the last few days he has been telling me and C that we are his best friends. My heart feels like it could burst every time he says it. He is such a little sweetheart.
I know also that he is growing and that soon enough there will be a time when this role as best friend will be replaced by someone else. But I'm not going to dwell on that.  For now I am relishing in every moment. I just pray God will help me to let him go when I need to.