Dear Pastor,

I am a 27-year-old single mother, and ever since I broke up with my babyfather I have never experienced what it feels like to be loved by someone else. I have been in a relationship on and off for over four years and I don't see it going anywhere. So I'm thinking of ending it because I feel that he has another woman, but I'm scared because I don't want to be alone again.

Pastor, I want to know if this is it for me. Please, help me. Sometimes I lie in my bed at nights and cry because I long for companionship. Please give me some advice.

LB, Ontario, Canada

Dear LB,

Your man is around but you know that you are not in love with him. You are tolerating him because you don't want to feel lonely. What you are failing to understand is that by allowing this man to hang around, you might be keeping away someone who is seriously interested in you. A woman can be alone, but not lonely, because she can occupy herself with many things. You seem to feel that it is only a man who can prevent a woman from feeling lonely.

There are many single women who do not have boyfriends, but they do lots of social work and they keep themselves occupied. Some engage in sports, etc. If you do not really love this man, you should tell him so and ask him to leave. And if he doesn't, you should leave him.

Pastor