Dear Pastor,

I am 25 and a regular reader of your column, and I listen to you on the radio almost every night. You are an inspiration to me and I thank you for helping to build the self-esteem of many people.

When I was growing up, I was very shy and thought that I was not as pretty as my other sisters. I had very low self-esteem. But one day you responded to a caller and you told her that she must learn to accept herself and that she should not think of herself as ugly. You also said that she should learn how to dress and practise positive thinking. From that day, I stopped looking at myself as ugly. And the more I practised positive thinking is the more I attracted guys to myself.

When I went to college, guys always wanted to date me. Today, I am married to a wonderful man and we have a child. I consider myself a beautiful black Jamaican woman. I don't wear hair extensions. I don't bleach or tone. My husband likes me the way I am. I don't drink and I don't overeat, so I keep my weight in check.

Pastor, you are doing a good job. I will never stop encouraging people to read your column and to listen to your show.

S.E., Clarendon

Dear S.E.,

Thank you very much for your words of encouragement. I am glad that I have made a small contribution in shaping your life and your future. You were a shy girl, but after you built your self-esteem, you became a hot girl (in a very good way). And you know that intelligent men like women who are assertive and have high self-esteem and are educated. I am also happy that you have a good marriage and you have become a mother.

I hope that you will be able to teach other young women to have a positive outlook on life and how to be ladylike and how to conduct themselves in public. Thanks again for your words of encouragement. May the good Lord bless your family.

Pastor