Relatives upset my godmother left me a house

Dear Pastor,

I am a hard-working man. I am married, and my wife and I have three children.

My godmother never got married, but she was very kind to me. She took me as her son and she assisted my mother in every way with me. She even took me to church with her and helped to pay my way through college. As she got older, I promised her that I would take care of her. I did every business for her. She loved my wife. Her relatives didn't help her at all. She has a brother and when she became very ill I called him, but he never came to visit her.

When she died and I informed him, he showed up and was asking many questions, like how much money she died leaving and which bank she had her money in. He did not contribute even one cent to her funeral. There were other relatives who wanted to move into her house and I objected. I changed the locks on the house and they were upset. Her brother went back to the country before she was buried, and was cursing me and accusing me of killing her to get what she had.

After I notified the brother that she was dead and he came to Kingston and was questioning me, I told him that a will was made. In that will, she declared that I should have the house. I gave him the name of the executor and he went to see him. The executor told him that nothing is in the will for him. From he heard that, he did not stick around.

This woman spent plenty of her money on her sickness, but I always believed that I owe her a great amount of gratitude. My wife and I gave her a decent funeral. The house she has left for us is a beautiful three-bedroom place. We did our best to help while she was alive. I was told by someone who know her brother that he has threatened to sue me; I don't understand for what. There are so many people who do not help relatives, but as soon as the relatives die, they show up hoping to get the 'dead lef'.

My wife is so scared to live in the house my godmother left for us. We are presently refurbishing the house and may likely sell it. If we had the power, we would have used it to keep my godmother alive, but she is gone and may her soul rest in peace.

E.F.

Dear E.F.,

I am glad to hear that you were able to assist your godmother. She was a great woman.

As you said, she did not have children of her own. But she helped to nurture you and to give you guidance. You are not ungrateful. You did your very best for her as she got older.

It is indeed unfortunate that her own relatives did not help to care for her. You don't need to be concerned about her brother who has accused you of killing her. When she was ill and you contacted him, he never visited her. But after she died, he showed up with empty hands. He didn't offer to help with funeral expenses. He came hoping that the sister had left property for him. But upon hearing that he had nothing to get, he did not even attend her funeral.

I am glad you did your best for this wonderful woman. Don't be afraid of the threats from her brother. This lady has left valuable assets for your wife and you. Take good care of it.

Pastor