Expecting great things from my daughter

Dear Pastor,

The days are going by very quickly and I hope that I would be able to see my daughter graduate from college.

I am not in the best of health. I have been sending my only daughter to college. I have two sons and they have let me down, but my daughter is ambitious. She has been a good girl and was a good student in high school. The teachers have always told me to try to help her. I used all the money I have saved to pay her fees. Sometimes I have to turn to my relatives abroad when I go to the doctor and have prescriptions to fill.

My daughter's mother passed on; she had cancer. My sons went on their own and are living with women, but my daughter and I live together and she has helped me a lot. When she was 18, she told me that she would go out and seek a job to take the pressure off me. She got a job in an office as a receptionist, but it was temporary. Then she started college and I have spent everything on her, I am so proud of her. Sometimes we chat and joke about boys; she would tell me what the boys say to her when she is walking on the road or even on campus. She has a lovely shape. She said, "Daddy, I will never let you down."

I am under doctor's care, but I am not giving up. She wants to further her education abroad, so she is seeking a scholarship. I know she will get one because she is a god-fearing girl. Everything I have will be given to her, because my boys doesn't want anything. One of them was arrested for ganja. I paid the lawyer to save him from going to prison, but he has not given me back a cent. My daughter said that the only reason she would stay in Jamaica is to take care of me. But I told her that I would never try to keep her back if she wants to go abroad. I am in my 60s and I do not care to live in North America. My body cannot withstand the cold.

When I was young, I went on the farm work programme, but that was many years ago. I told my daughter that I would love to see her not only graduate, but start working and, eventually, give me a couple of grandchildren. She said that I would have to wait for a very long time because she does not trust men. So all you guys out there, please take care of your children, especially your daughters.

F.W.

Dear F.W.,

Some men are very proud of their sons, but not all sons are proud of their fathers.

The truth is, parents should be proud of their children, whether they are boys or girls. Only foolish children will want to see their parents suffer. Good children should do their very best to support their parents, especially when they are in their senior years.

You did not say what is your problem and why are you suffering physically. Whatever it is, I hope that you will recover very soon. You said you have not wasted your money, and so you are in a position to put your daughter through college. She will never be ungrateful to you because she sees and knows the sacrifices that you have made for her. You are proud of her, and she is proud of you.

Concerning her desire to study abroad, she should weigh the matter carefully before making a decision. She might even decide not to go if that would cause you to suffer. I wish you well, my brother.

Pastor