Case 87
I am the mother of four daughters, from fifteen to three years of age. Two weeks ago I punished my oldest daughter with a whip because she was not being obedient. After she left, with the marks from the whip on her arms, I felt badly. I had never disciplined my children like this before, but I wanted her to respond. My question is: Up until what age should I discipline my daughter physically? Does [...]
Case 86
I have decided to commit suicide because I feel like I have lost everything. I have been married for thirty years. I worked long hours and was a tyrant to my wife, but I was never irresponsible. I managed to educate my five children.... Less than two years into our marriage I discovered that my wife was cheating on me with her boss at work.... I forgave her, but now she looks down on me, [...]
Case 85
I have begun to see the faults of my daughters’ husbands, and I worry a lot because they are pulling away from me. I don’t want to cause them any harm; on the contrary, I try to counsel them when I see them treat my daughters unfairly. Would you please advise me what to do? Dear Friend, Your own words reveal the reason your daughters and their husbands are pulling away from you: you are [...]
Case 84
I feel stressed when I talk, and I tend to stutter, even when I am at home or with my friends.... I always have to be careful which words I say because I have learned that there are words I can always say without stuttering. This is my daily struggle. I am fed up with this! At work I am required to do a lot of public speaking, and it is a struggle for me [...]
Case 83
I am twenty‑four years old. About six years ago I met a guy. We started going out, but he deceived me a number of times and then met another girl and left me to be with her for a year.... Now he left the girl and has come back to me. Since then I don’t know if he has cheated on me, but he deceived me in a different way: he was smoking marijuana. He [...]
Case 82
I met a man who told me he was divorced. Due to his extreme kindness, his eagerness to protect me, and his love, I ended up giving in to the idea that we should live together. After many months, he told me that his children and their mother were coming to visit and that we should let them stay in our house. It turns out that he was not estranged from his wife. He was [...]
Case 81
I am eleven years old and my sister is twelve. For more than three years my dad and mom have argued. They fight about silly things, like that the water is dripping or that my mom leaves a wrinkle when ironing. I feel badly that my dad insults my mom, and I don’t know how to tell them not to fight over nothing. I want to ask you to give me advice so that they [...]
Case 80
I am sixteen and have been married almost a year. Four months ago my husband began to hit me.... He wasn’t like that before, and sometimes he scares me. He puts me in a cold shower when he is very mad at me.... He keeps a jealous eye on me constantly and gets angry for no reason. He is afraid that I will get pregnant, and occasionally presses down on my stomach.... I don’t like [...]
Case 79
I have just retired from teaching High School. I have done some introspection, examining my conscience, and these are the conclusions I have come to: 1) I have only taught scientific facts; 2) My empty life was not always a good example for my students; and 3) Although I always put on a good front, I wasn’t good on the inside: I was a secret alcoholic and a lying politician. I have sinned in every [...]