Church sister tried to take my husband

Dear Pastor,

I hope you would accept New Year's greeting from my family and not consider it too late.

My husband and I are always talking about you because you officiated at our wedding 10 years ago. We want you to know that we are still together and doing well. We often listen to you on the radio and whenever it is possible, we read what you have written in the newspaper.

Before we got married, we told you that we had a son. He is doing well and he is married. He and his wife have a daughter. Time goes by so fast. He is very good to us. He and his wife live just 30 minutes drive from us. It does not seem as if we will return to Jamaica to live. We hear about the crime and the high cost of living. We wonder how you cope.

My husband feels that he is called to the ministry. I will not discourage him. I will give him support where necessary. I am still in nursing. I enjoy working in the hospital, although a patient may try to insult me occasionally. But I do not take them on, because I know who I am and I am being paid for what I am doing. I love working as a nurse. We have been able to buy a house outside of St Mary. We do not intend to live there, so we have rented it. We have space to do an addition if we think that would be necessary. My husband has become very fat. He is eating so much and not exercising. But he is a wonderful man and he treats me well.

A couple of years ago, I suspected that he was involved with another woman, but I was wrong. This woman was trying to push herself on to him, but she did not succeed. What got me really mad was that she was a deaconess in the church that we attended. I told her that I am a Jamaican and that I will put my Bible down and beat the crap out of her. When I realised that he was not the one pushing on her, I asked my husband to forgive me. But you know when a woman has a good man, she has to do everything to protect her marriage.

Whenever we come to Jamaica, we plan to visit your church. Take good care of yourself.

- T.L.

Dear T.L.,

I am very happy to hear from you and to know that your family is doing well. You must be very proud of your son.

He has kept out of bad company, he went to school and got some education, and now he is happily married. Go easy on your husband. You ought to take some of the blame if his weight has got out of control. Remember, you are his wife and a nurse. You control the pot. I know you can't control his appetite, but you surely can remind him of the things that he should not eat. I don't want you to be upset with me for what I am saying.

Recently, I met with some friends. We were talking about men and their health. She told me that she has often spoken to her husband about doing certain tests, but she cannot get him to do them. He finally told her, "Something has to take me out." We laughed at what her husband said, but it is a very serious matter; everybody must see about their health.

Pastor