WORTHLESS SISTER DRIVING ME NUTS

Dear Pastor,

Recently, I felt a dark presence within me and I'm trying to suppress my feelings but it's now becoming a losing battle.

I have been living in our family house for 24 years. Being the youngest child for my parents and the only male, I wanted to stay and help my parents out with any problems.

I have a sister who keeps getting into problems, getting beating up by men, getting married and divorced in a short time span and constantly starting fights. So my father took her in about five years ago. She is always arguing with him about anything she sees wrong with the section of the house in which she lives. One day they had a falling out.

About three years ago, she picked up a very dirty man who loves to play his deafening music from the back of his car and loves to pick fights with everyone. They have befriended two neighbours by giving them drinks and weed and hosting parties that last until 4 a.m. Then they slander me and my parents' name in any way they can so it would look like they are the ones that are having issues. I've avoided them and so have the rest of our family.

Now this man decided that he wanted to raise some ducks in the backyard, and let me tell you, Pastor, the conditions in which they lived was like a cesspool because of the smell. These ducks would constantly do all sorts of mischief, including dragging sheets off the line and leaving a nasty scent on them. I had to chase these ducks away one day and two of the people who are always partying came into the yard and started to fight me and ended up breaking my leg.

Pastor, the doctor is not sure if things will be the same after three surgeries. Lately, I can't sleep as the feeling of anger keeps me up at night. My job as a chemist makes me think of ways of how I can make them suffer. Evil things are passing through my head, even the thought of getting a 'tool' or a 'shooter' to deal with them. But I do not want to turn out like this. I need help. I have used all my resources on getting my leg fixed but they have failed. Please help me find a way not to turn into something I would regret.

S.H.

Dear S.H.,

You have not clearly stated your problem. But I would not question whether you are emotionally, psychologically and even physically affected by whatever occurred in your life.

You, your sister and her spouse are not getting along. You seem as if you are upset because your sister is living in the same home with you. Your father invited her back to the house because he believed that she needed help. You seem to be upset over that. You do not like her boyfriend coming there to visit her. Your father is not against your sister having a male visitor. Why should that upset you? If your sister should not be at the house, then you should not be there either because both of you are adults.

I suggest that a family meeting be called and everything that you feel is going wrong should be discussed. On the other hand, there is another way of handling this matter. You know that you want your sister to leave but she is not going to leave. You are a grown man; you can leave out of your father's house. You need peace of mind. Your father is not complaining with his daughter being there. If you don't like it, go on your own. You are old enough to do so.

Pastor