Grandparents raised us right

Dear Pastor,

I grew up with my grandmother and two siblings. We were very poor. I slept on the same bed with my siblings.

When it was that time of the month for the girls, my grandmother used to insist that, as boys, we should sleep on the floor, so as not to embarrass our sisters. We learnt from a young age that our sisters needed privacy around that time of the month. At first, we didn't fully understand what she meant, but it did not take us long to catch on.

Our sisters used to tell us that they were seeing their blood, so we couldn't sleep on the bed with them. That is how they made it plain to us. Then Granny used to warn the girls, in front of us, not to go out and fool around with guys because they will get them pregnant. If they got pregnant, they would have to leave because the house couldn't hold that many people. Our sisters were never careless and they behaved themselves very well. None of them got pregnant. We are proud of them.

We are hoping to attend their weddings by the end of this year. We are proud of them and we are proud of Mama and Papa, who tried with all of us. We say thanks to all of them and to all Jamaican people who have tried with their children.

D.

Dear D.,

I am glad that your grandparents did their best for their grandchildren, although, at times, some of you had to sleep on the floor.

I am sure it was a rough period of time, but you didn't die. Not everybody in this world has had a smooth upbringing. Your siblings and you didn't have a smooth one, but you can look back and give God thanks for where you are coming from and where you are now. Give God thanks for what He is to you.

Take good care of yourselves.

Pastor