Dear Pastor,

This is to the woman who wrote the letter entitled'My Husband is Illiterate'. I understand just what she is going through. It will get worse before it gets better because it seems like she and her husband never lived together before they got married. I'm a Christian woman. I married my husband when I was 21 years old. He too is illiterate.

The wrong thing I did was to try to teach him to read overnight. It cannot happen. I don't know the medical explanation for this, but he just cannot learn to read. It has been 19 years of marriage and 14 years since he has been working on his job and he has enrolled into a literacy programme there. I still don't think he can read, but he has a pictorial mind. At times, it is embarrassing to me because he would shout out a word that is incorrect and the kids would say, "Daddy, you need to check your prescription in your glasses." I cover for him a lot and I do not let anyone belittle him or try to put him on the spot. He's an excellent preacher, but he makes sure that he studies before he goes up to preach.

I think God has placed me with this man because my mother, father, brother and other relatives cannot read and they too look to me for this type of support. God has also used this to my advantage so now I make money filling out applications for these individuals.

I must say that my husband's handicap, which is what I call it, does not interfere with our relationship. Other things get in the way, but not his inability to read. We keep that to ourselves and not even the children (the oldest is 17 years) know about it.

She should take your advice and encourage him in every way possible and never give him the idea that she is better than he is. As long as she is not expecting too much of him, he can be successful. My husband is an excellent builder and it was he who purchased our first home and not I, the educated one. The two of you can have a successful relationship.

C.M., New Jersey, U.S.A.

Dear C.M.,

I thank you so much for your letter. You are a darling to your husband. You have the right attitude. He will love you until he dies. You honour him. You make him feel that he is a man. You are a very good woman and the Lord will bless you. You have learnt how to cope with your husband in spite of his inability to read.

I hope that other women who have found themselves in this situation will learn from what you have said in your letter. May God bless you and bless your entire family. May God strengthen your husband and help him to be a good husband and father. Again, thank you very much for writing.

Pastor