Dear Pastor,

I hope you are in good health. I am writing to tell you about my problems and I need your help urgently. I am a Christian young man and I am 21 years old. There is a young woman in the church that I like and, when I told her that I like her, she told me that she likes me too.

The problem is that I am from a poor family. I learnt tailoring, so I don't get a lot of money. I do my best to dress well to go to church. I live with my mother and a brother. And my mother is very sickly and she can't do much work, but she still washes and cooks for my brother and me. She tries to go to church, but not every Sunday.

Pastor, I am really worried because this girl that I like told me that her parents told her that she shouldn't have anything to do with me, because I am too poor and I wouldn't be able to help her. She is 18 years old. Do you think it is right for her parents to tell her that she shouldn't have anything to do with me?

We have never gone out, but we talk whenever she comes to church. I have a picture of her and she has a picture of me. She is the first girl that I really see and love. My boss told me that I should not give up on her. She has never asked me for money and we don't exchange gifts. I need your fatherly advice. My boss said she is young and she will listen to her parents, but I must not give up.

F.M.

Dear F.M.,

I believe that your boss has given you good advice. Don't give up on this young lady. You know that she likes you and you like her, so that's a good start. However, parents have the right to advice their children in all things, whether it is on education, relationship, finance, etc. So you should not be upset with this girl's parents for telling her how they feel about the friendship that both of you are having.

I commend you for trying to get a skill. Some young men your age just sit around from day to day doing nothing. You are a tailor and that is commendable. You can go on and establish your own business in years to come. Many great people have had humble beginnings. Nothing is beyond a man who has ambition and is a hard worker. In the meantime, be careful not to say anything negative about this girl's parents. Let the love that you have for her remain in your heart and time will reveal whether both of you were meant to be together.

Pastor