My boss thought I was cursed

Dear Pastor,

I worked with a couple as their helper. The man was very nice to me, but his wife was prejudiced. They had two children, a boy and a girl. The man told his children to call me miss.

His wife did not like that at first. She became ill for about a few weeks and I had to help her to do just about everything.

Her husband paid me extra money to stay with her. When she saw how I took care of her, her attitude changed.

After I stayed with her for a week, I told my boss that I could not continue the other week because I had to take care of my children.

He allowed my two children to come and stay with me. My children stayed with me in my room and this man brought food for my children every evening.

I have worked with them for four years. They have left Jamaica and are encouraging me to come to the US to visit them.

They want to sponsor my children to the US, but my children's father says he is not going to agree to let them leave Jamaica.

This woman says that she did not grow up with black people. She was taught that black people were cursed.

But I have taught her that black people can be loving and helpful. When her husband's company was sending him to Jamaica, she was scared, but she is not scared anymore.

I would like to have my children go away and get a good education. I need your advice, pastor.

Initial Withheld

Dear Initial Withheld,

I want to answer your letter by giving you an experience I had. Many years ago, when I was a guest at the home of the director of a missionary society in the US, the director of the mission had four children.

I am talking about white folks. This man evidently believed that black people were cursed because the eldest of his children was questioning me one day about my blackness and she implied that, according to The Bible, black people were cursed.

I could have spoiled my visit by overreacting, but I remained calm. But I never forgot it and as my tenure with the society got longer, I realised that these people did not see black folks on the same level as white folks.

What I am trying to say is that your female employer grew up to believe that she was better or that white folks were better than black folks. They are of a higher status.

But you proved them wrong. You did not change her mind or attitude with a gun, but you did so with love and you won her heart.

Now they even want you to visit them and have also extended an invitation to your children to help them get a good education.

Tell the children's father that both of you should make this offer a matter of prayer, and that you should not be in a hurry to say no.

Pastor