Tell Me Pastor

Problem child

DEAR PASTOR,

I am a 15-year-old girl with a big problem. I am having problems with my mother. I am constantly cursing her. We don't get along. I really want to change. I pray every night before I go to bed and ask God to change me. I know that I can't change overnight but anything is possible with God. I really need to change. I can't sleep at nights because I am unhappy with the way I act and with my attitude towards her.

I really need your prayer. I can't go on with the rest of my life acting like this. Sometimes I want to just kill myself because I know my mother can't control me and I can't control myself. When I think of my boyfriend and how much I love him, I get real sad. He constantly tells me to stop acting this way towards my mother but I can't help it.

I need to leave her house but I don't have anywhere to go. I think it will be better not be around her because then I will not have anything to say to her. It will cause less confusion. I really need to find somewhere to go so that I could be free from all this. I am having a lot of problems but they are confidential and they are tearing me apart. I really need help.

I am asking you to pray for me. I really need some prayers.

C., Connecticut, USA

Dear C,

May I suggest that you ask the minister of your church to refer you to a family counsellor. It seems to me that you need to undergo counselling in anger control. You recognize that you have a problem in that area and your boyfriend is eager to see you learn to control yourself. Therefore, you should seek professional help.

Pastor