Devon Houselover

Dear Pastor,

I met a man at Devon House. I was there with my children. I was playing with them and this man came up and said how he was admiring us and he started to play ball with us. I didn't like it at first but he seemed to be a decent man. He asked me if my husband was with us and I lied and told him yes. I don't have a husband but I told him so to get rid of him, but he didn't leave.

About an hour after he asked me why my husband has not come back and I told him he must have gone out and gotten held up. Anyhow, finally I said to him, "My husband is not here with us." He bought us lunch and offered to take us for a ride. He was driving a van. The children were eager to go but I told him next time. Then he offered to take us home. I turned that done also and asked him how is it that he was there alone. He said he was there to clear his head because he and his woman were having problems.

I sat in his van while the children continued to play. He told me he saw me from I was coming into Devon House with the children and was admiring me and he would like to know me better. I told him I was also having problems with my children's fathers and I was broke. He took me to the supermarket, not far from Devon House and he spent $6,000. I couldn't let him take me home because I did not want him to know where I was living right away. He did not insist, so he gave me money to take a taxi home.

Every day the children ask me about the nice man they met at Devon House. I found out that he is married but I need his help. Only one of the two men I have children for gives me a little help, and this man only wants sex from me. I have been giving it to him. He can't manage very well but that doesn't bother me because I need the help.

Sometimes he gives me up to $20,000 every two week. I really love him and he loves my children. What do you think about this relationship?

H.E.

Dear H.E.,

The man told you that he was at Devon House to clear his head. You were there spending time with your kids and perhaps clearing your head too. He had money in his pocket, you had none. You lied about having a husband, but you are not a very good liar anyhow because he had the time and he stayed around and proved to himself that you were not there with your man.

The children were happy to be treated by a man. Perhaps they had never received that sort of treatment from their fathers. Some might condemn you for eventually telling the man that you were broke and that the house did not have any food. At least you were wise enough to challenge the man to put his money where his mouth was. He said he admired you and wanted to get to know you better. That cost him $6,000 for groceries, in addition to what he spent at Devon House. Now, he is spending more and more money on you and your only regret is that he is married.

I am wondering what the children call him. I hope that while you are taking this man's money you would not fight to take him away from his wife. I can't encourage this relationship. You have not said anything about whether or not you are working. Please try and get yourself a job and do not depend on this man for support.

Pastor