My man’s clients are robbing him blind

Dear Pastor,

I am a regular reader of your column and I want to congratulate you for the good work that you have been doing.

I am 23 years old and I have a boyfriend who is 31. I love him very much but sometimes he abuses me - not physically, but verbally. He took me from my parents' home to live with him. My mother was happy to see me leave. She gave me her blessing. My father did not object either, because he has not been able to maintain the house the way he should. He does not walk properly because of a terrible accident.

I have brothers but they cannot help my parents very much. My boyfriend is a hard-working man. I told him when I met him that he would have to agree to send me back to school. He has not done so as yet, but I assist him in the work that he does. I make appointments for him and try to keep his books. People take advantage of him. I told him he is too soft and he gets upset whenever I talk to him. He does not listen.

Some folks use him but they don't pay him right away. Whenever I call them, they make excuses and plan to pay him, but the money does not come in and he doesn't want me to rough the people up. But the tyres for the truck must be bought and every week he has to pay the sidemen. I told him that I am the one who he can raise his voice on but he should learn to stand up for his money.

Whenever I give him good advice, he does not take it. The insurance to do his business is high. I don't know what to do with this man. I know I cannot leave him. He has really taken me out of a bad situation at home. I just want to help him more and to get him to learn to listen to a girl who has been gaining business experience every day.

My ambition is to go to UTech, Jamaica to do business courses so that I can help this man more. I know I am young, but I am not too young to stand up for my man who means everything to me.

P.K.

Dear P.K.,

You seem to love this man very much. I hope that he will continue to treat you well.

Some businessmen rely totally on their women to handle their businesses. I have seen that many times. Evidently this man wants you to keep his books, but not to get into any confrontations with his clients. On the other hand, he should be happy to have someone who would stand up for him, because some clients are very dishonest. They will take a long time to pay him for his service.

This man believes that speaking softly to his clients is the best way to get them to pay him, so don't go ahead of him and harass the customers. I hope that you would indeed be able to go to UTech to pursue your studies. I wish you well. Let me hear what progress you are making.

Pastor