When someone you love breaks your heart

I'm struggling with a situation occurring right now -- and my feelings about it all.

I met a beautiful child when she was about 3 or 4 and have loved her ever since.  She and my girlchild have been friends for a long time.  Close friends.  Until last month.

When I see how she is treating my daughter I hurt for my daughter, but I also hurt for this child.  This child I have loved, like my own, for so long.   Sounds like I am choosing sides here (by saying: how she is treating my daughter) -- and I am.   Not because girlchild is MINE. Instead, because my heart leads me to what is right.  

I guess that is why I hurt for this other child so much -- because she is, in my opinion, so wrong in her choices right now. 

What's going on you wonder?   Racism.  Pure and simple.  Racism.

I had no idea this child was so racist.  How have I known her for 13 years and not have realized this?  I guess because race is a non-issue for me and I have just never .... noticed ....  it was for her?

How did I find out?   When girlchild started dating a boy outside her own race. 

Ok, so you don't want to be her friend now?  OK.   But .... why call her ugly names?  Why ask her to sit at a different lunch table because you do not want to sit with her any longer?  Why tell a girl  (another friend of girlchild's) of a different race you are BETTER than her because you are white?

Racism.

My child is hurt .... my child is abandoned ........  I hurt for her so much. 

But this child is LOST. Lost in a world of hatred and I almost hurt for her more.  How can I not hurt for someone who cannot see that we're all equal creatures created by God?  How can I not hurt for that?