Sirach 3:10 –
“Never seek honor for yourself at your father’s expense; it is not to your credit if he is dishonored. 11 Your own honor comes from the respect that you show to your father.”
Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.”
“Prayer for children
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Father of all goodness, I place my children in your hands. You entrusted them to my care, and I entrust them to your providence Protect them in body and soul. Guard their minds, their hearts, and their friendships. Keep them safe in their coming and going.
Lord Jesus, you welcomed children with tenderness and you said, “Let the little children come to me.” I ask you to draw my children close to your heart. Give them faith. Give them purity. Give them courage to do what is right even when it is unpopular.
Holy Spirit, guide my children. Give them wisdom in choices and strength in temptation. Help them resist what is harmful. Help them seek what is true. Help them grow in virtue and in joy. When they are afraid, comfort them. When they are angry, calm them. When they are sad, hold them with your peace.
Father, bless my parenting. Teach me to be patient and consistent. Teach me to correct without humiliating. Teach me to guide without controlling. Help me to listen, to understand, and to be present. Give me grace to set boundaries with love and to model the faith with integrity.
I ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mother, watch ove my children with your maternal care. I ask the help of the holy angel Guardian angels, protect them and keep them in the light of God.
them in your friendship. Let them know they are loved by you, and let Father, I entrust their future to you. Lead them to your will. Keep out home be a place where your love is seen and lived.
Father, protect my children from lies that confuse them and from pressures that make them fearful. Give them confidence grounded in your love. Teach them to seek truth, to love what is good, and to resist what is harmful. Give them clean hearts and wise friendships.
Lord Jesus, bless their education, their activities, and their daily routines. Protect them in school and in travel. Protect them in their conversations and in their online life. Help them use their time well. and help them avoid what dulls the conscience.
Holy Spirit, grant them a desire for prayer. Let them know how to turn to you when they are tempted or when they are afraid. Give them love for the sacraments and a respect for what is holy. If they fall, lead them back without shame.
Amen.“
Let me begin by saying this. If Robert’s children ever read these words, they may find them sharp, confronting, even painful. I do not write them lightly. Yet despite what is written here, I want them to know that I see their true beauty. I see the immense reflection of their father in them, and even glimpses of Drea’s unspoiled character in her youth. I carry a deep and sincere love for them in my heart, and I wholeheartedly believe in their capacity to change—to repent—and to grow into all that God intended them to be: to cultivate a deep love for themselves, and to learn to love, honor, and respect their father.
I pray, too, that they turn away from falsely accusing their father of deeds that are not his, and instead learn to trust him as many have, and as they once did. He is an imperfect father—none but God is without flaw—he has made mistakes, yet he is nothing like the image they have publicly painted over these past years.
It is their challenge in life to understand why they have become the way they have toward their father, when once they shared such a deep, pure love and trust in him.
I want to see them prosper, to know family, and to understand what the words loyalty, humility, and love really mean—and when to apply them. I also want them to understand the gravity of their words and actions, which have been intensely hurtful and lacking in compassion and understanding. I pray for them constantly that the demonic spirit of sociopathy and the mental illness that I see so clearly in their mother will not develop in them. Instead, I pray they will develop hearts that fear God and are filled with humility, honour, integrity, stability, love, and the ability to see reality clearly—but also to accept reality and truth as it is, without changing it to suit their own desires.
The Bible teaches that we should never spoil children by refusing to “discipline” them. Discipline can take many forms, and sometimes it is simply speaking the truth in love, as the Bible says. Here, I will attempt to do exactly that, in the hope that their eyes may be opened one day to the manipulation, trickery, and parental alienation I believe they have been subjected to at the hands of their mother, Drea Kelly—but also to their own harmful actions and words, which were modeled from their mother.
As painful as these truths may be—because it is their mother who birthed them—I speak them with the hope that the truth will set them free. I see no other path that will lead to their real change, prosperity, happiness, freedom, and healing until they can face the reality of what truly happened, and what their mother did to destroy their perception of their father and their relationship with him.
I believe, without any ill will in my heart, that Drea Kelly is deeply manipulative, sociopathic, and narcissistic, and may also be suffering from an undiagnosed personality disorder or similar condition. I believe this is what has directed her behaviour and words for many years: fabricating abuse stories, smearing Robert’s character with lies, and falsely portraying herself as a loving mother and victim of abuse for public recognition, fame, and profit.
Her behaviour is consistent with that of someone with narcissistic personality disorder, but also of someone who may suffer from delusions. She may actually believe the stories she tells herself and others, or convince herself that her lies are justified because of the hurt she feels over her marriage breaking down and Robert filing for divorce.
22 Timothy 3:1–3
“In the last days… people will be lovers of themselves… disobedient to parents… slanderous…”
Above all, I pray that they come to embrace a genuine love for God, the Creator of the beauty that lives within their hearts.
Before I post my next piece on relationships, I thought it was important to briefly talk about Robert and his relationship with his children, and to also briefly discuss Karma (the documentary Joann made with her siblings and the claims she made in it), and to answer it in the same way I have answered all questions about him. The answer always lies in God. God makes things clear. If something isn’t clear, God is always willing to reveal it to anyone who genuinely wants the truth. But for people with confirmation bias, there is no room for God or truth, because they have already decided what the truth is and are only looking for evidence to support it. I pray that God gives such people more humility and humanity—to care more about people and what is true than about being right and feeding their self-importance and narcissism.
The overall truth here is that Drea Kelly made a false allegation to authorities about Joann being abused at the time Robert filed for divorce from her. I believe that she told the story that she was the one who divorced him, but this is completely untrue. If the allegation had come from Joann herself, it was quickly cleared up when two different agencies investigated it at the time and found that the story was not true and that nothing had happened.
I believe that, for the most part, children are incredibly honest; however, the power of suggestion, persuasion, or manipulation can be very strong when coming from a resentful, vengeful parent.
Joann has already expressed Drea’s capacity for “being at war” against Robert in their song together (“Wanna Be There” from The Buffet album). She sings to Robert, her father, that “Mamma was at war, maybe you’re not the enemy.” This reveals far more than any unsubstantiated documentary made during Drea’s warring ever could, because it tells the truth of Joann questioning what she has been made to believe about her father by her mother, Drea. It tells the true story of what was hurting their relationship and Drea’s behaviour behind the scenes.
I wanted to share some thoughts on the lyrics of a song Joann wrote with Robert. To me, they really show what she was feeling and thinking about him and their relationship prior to external evil forces and influence. It’s important to remember that this song was written long before the rise of Times Up, MeToo movements, movements that, in many cases, led people to see public allegations of abuse as a way to gain revenge, fame, profit, attention, recognition, or even personal advantage. I’m not saying that was ever Joann’s intention, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Growing up in a home where her mother is constantly chasing recognition and fame without merit with hidden envy and jealously like Drea Lee can have a big impact on children. Only God truly knows how that shaped their intentions, thoughts, feelings, or actions. Especially when the other parent is so highly honoured and they witness and watch the disguised jealousy and envy of their mother towards their father. I also believe it’s possible that some of their choices were influenced by wanting to protect their mother or to keep certain things hidden. Misaligned loyalty and natural attachment to her, as their mother. But not Godly principles. Not true justice, not authentic truthful story-telling and definitely not in line with love, kindness or humility.
It will take a lot for them to admit this, because narcissism is more than just a personality flaw — it’s a disease of the soul, mind, and spirit. It convinces people that they are always right, that their actions are justified, and that they are somehow superior to others. It can blind them completely, leading to cruel, hurtful, and even destructive behavior. At the same time, people can be influenced or used by narcissists to cause pain to others, and I believe that has also been part of what happened here.
I use the word “narcissism” (sociopathy) in the social and spiritual context here and elsewhere. What I mean by it is a lack of genuine empathy for others equally (being the key word), selfish or callous behavior, and grandiose ideas or intentions without concern for everyone involved overall. I think this is what is missing in todays careless, social use of the word. Equal and overall good vs partial-selective empathy (toxic empathy), bias or conclusions. Calling people narcissistic for simply demonstrating selfish behaviour or even arrogance is reckless and inapproriate. Also concluding someone is a narcisist without the full context of the story and knowing the situation personally is also dangerous and ignorant, and I try to avoid doing so. I’m not suggesting a clinical diagnosis, this is about patterns of behavior, not a medical label.
From what I know, none of the people I mention have been clinically or properly diagnosed with personality disorders such as antisocial personality disorder, narcissism, sociopathy, or psychopathy. However, they do exhibit a full range of the clinical symptoms and signs that would typically be considered in a diagnosis.
That’s why I think it’s important for them to come to a place of honesty and true reflection, a real kind of repentance that includes acknowledging what was really happening in their home. Only then can healing, understanding, and truth really take root.
I share this not to condem her, but to encourage people to look deeper at the real situation behind these stories, the feelings, the family dynamics, and the things that often get missed when people only see the headlines.
Lyrics: “Wanna Be There.”
By Robert (R.Kelly) & his oldest daughter, Joann Kelly, who made the documentary “Karma.” – released 2015
(The lyrics reveal signs of “parental alienation abuse,” not neglect or abuse by Robert!)
[Intro: R. Kelly]
Things that I have to say to you
You need to hear
And I know we’ve got some rebuildin’, oh
But I believe time will heal
[Verse 1: R. Kelly]
Anything that you wanna do
Baby girl I’mma support you
And anything that you’re going through
I swear, I will be there for you, you
It’s been so many years so I know it feels awkward
Know you had to tuck all your tears in your school locker
And I understand your position
And why your heart went missin’
And things that you wondered
[Pre-Chorus: R. Kelly]
Oh oh-ooh
I know that you mad at me, thinkin’ that I didn’t care
Talk to me, cause
[Chorus: R. Kelly]
I just wanna be there
When you conquer the world
I just wanna be there
But no matter how successful baby girl
When you need someone to lean on, I just wanna be your shoulder
When you need someone to call on, I wanna be the one to hold ya
I just wanna be there
(Be there, Be there, Be there)
I just wanna be there
[Verse 2: R. Kelly]
Call me back when I be calling you
Cause I be feelin’ like I’m stalking you
And I know you’ve got issues with rejection, oh
I’m just being honest, I know what you’re thinking, never did I neglect ya, no
Cause I love you too much Jo
And I would just kill myself before I do anything to hurt ya
One hunnid, all I ever wanted to do is please you
And I don’t know what happened to us but I need you
[Chorus: R. Kelly]
I just wanna be there
When you conquer the world I just wanna be there
But no matter how successful baby girl
When you need someone to lean on, I just wanna be your shoulder
When you need someone to call on, I wanna be the one to hold ya
I just wanna be there
(Be there, Be there, Be there)
I just wanna be there
[Verse 3: Joann]
I know that there were so many things going on
And there were some times I thought I wouldn’t make it
But my brothers and me kept each other strong
How do I tell ’em why you’re not there
When I don’t even know myself
I hate you, I love you, I do and I don’t wanna see you
You tell us you need us but that we just need to believe you
My heart is broke, it’s so hard to cope
And every night I cry out to heaven cause I need you both more
And sometimes it was easy to not say anything
Mamma was at war, “Maybe, you’re not the enemy”
And it still feels like we’re miles away
But I can meet you halfway cause at the end of the day
[Chorus: R. Kelly, Joann & Duet]
I just wanna be there
Be there for you, yeah, yeah
When you conquer the world I just wanna be there
But no matter how successful baby girl
When you need someone to lean on, I just wanna be your shoulder
When you need someone to call on, I wanna be the one to hold ya
I just wanna be there
(Be there, Be there, Be there) 3x
I just wanna be there
1. The Relationship Is Framed as Emotional Distance, Not Abuse
The central theme repeated throughout the song is the father wanting to reconnect and be present.
Examples:
- “I just wanna be there”
- “When you need someone to lean on”
- “I wanna be the one to hold ya”
These lines frame the relationship as supportive and parental, rather than describing harm or violation.
2. The Conflict Is Presented as Misunderstanding or Absence
Several lines suggest the conflict revolves around the father not being there, rather than harming the child.
Examples:
- “How do I tell ’em why you’re not there / When I don’t even know myself”
- “I know that you mad at me, thinkin’ that I didn’t care”
- “Never did I neglect ya”
The narrative focuses on perceived neglect or absence, not abuse.
3. Joann’s Emotions Are Ambivalent, Not Fear-Based
The daughter expresses mixed emotions:
- “I hate you, I love you, I do, and I don’t wanna see you.”
This indicates confusion and hurt, which is common in estranged family relationships. In many narratives about sexual abuse, lyrics or testimony often include themes like:
- fear
- violation
- secrecy around abuse
- references to inappropriate behavior
None of those appear here.
4. The Song Mentions Parental Conflict
One of the clearest contextual clues is:
- “Mamma was at war, ‘Maybe, you’re not the enemy’”
This line suggests conflict between parents, which could influence the child’s perception of the father. It points toward family conflict dynamics, not sexual abuse.
5. Joann Still Expresses a Desire for Both Parents
Example:
- “I need you both more”
Children describing sexual abuse by a parent often show fear or strong rejection, whereas here the daughter expresses a wish for both parents in her life.
There is no direct lyrical evidence suggesting sexual abuse, and the emotional tone centers on estrangement and misunderstanding rather than harm or violation.
I believe that Joann was the most susceptible to her mother’s manipulation and false storytelling because she is, firstly, incredibly sensitive and trusting in character, but also because her mother’s charm and vivacious nature—along with her hysterical tears—are enough to convince anyone that something horrible happened at the hands of her father; that Drea was innocent, kind, and well-intended when it came to her father, as most of the public currently believes about Drea.
The overall story, behaviour, and words of all involved here are also consistent with parental alienation abuse—the false accusations in particular, but also the silent destruction of Robert’s relationship with his children. He has expressed publicly and privately deep, unending, and endearing love for them, but in return, they have mostly expressed distaste, resentment, and repeated false allegations against him—to the shock of many who know and love him.
Having said that, I won’t cover the issue of parental alienation abuse in full here. What it is and how it led to this catastrophic sequence of events, culminating in the documentary Karma, I will simply implore you to research this topic before trying to comprehend his situation with his children.
“Parental alienation can be identified through the presence of five factors: (1) the child refuses, opposes, or avoids a relationship with a parent; (2) the child had a positive relationship with that parent before they rejected them; (3) there is no evidence of abuse or neglect perpetrated by the rejected parent; (4) the other parent has used multiple parental alienating behaviours; (5) the child exhibits behavioural manifestations of parental alienation.”
Robert never had the psychological terms to explain what was going on, and as a father, socially, he didn’t have the support to be transparent with the public about the amount of abusive behaviour he was subjected to with Andrea Lee-McKee, their mother. Men are rarely believed when it comes to abuse and children. Corrupt women will use these social advantages to gain power, public support for their abuse, and even, in this case, undeserved honour, as Andrea Lee-McKee has for many years.
Once you understand the implications of parental alienation abuse, you will completely understand Robert’s unbearable and long-suffering situation with Andrea Lee and his children. You will understand why they became estranged, why they came to believe that he didn’t love them, why they came to believe he was the things people lied about and falsely claimed, and why his daughter made the false allegations she did at the time she did. None of this will surprise you once you research and understand parental alienation abuse and how it affects both the alienated parent and the child, even when grown. All of these outcomes are symptoms of parental alienation abuse.
Sirach 3:10 says
“Never seek honor for yourself at your father’s expense; it is not to your credit if he is dishonored. 11 Your own honor comes from the respect that you show to your father.”
Their behavior, words, spirit, and actions against their father are unforgivable. Unforgivable in human terms. Were we not Christians, we could rightly choose never to forgive, to close the door and move on. But for God, for Jesus, hope, healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation are only possible through Him—when there is genuine repentance, confession, and a renouncing of evil. Not before.
Yes, Andrea Lee-McKee (formerly Drea Kelly) bears responsibility for alienating them. But as adults, they had free will to choose goodness, justice, and love over corruption, lies, and betrayal. God has given us a conscience to discern right from wrong. What they did—the harm they inflicted on any human being, let alone their own father, who loved them with all his heart—is the very essence of evil.
Ignoring God allows the human heart to commit great harm. Beliefs and feelings do not determine truth; only reality does. The truth is built on facts, not emotions. The facts are clear: the allegation was fabricated, and two agencies confirmed that nothing had occurred. So why repeat such evil before the world—except for greed, attention, and a hunger for fame? Why never first sit down with him, if there were any genuine concern for truth, healing, or justice? Why go directly to the public with a false and damaging claim, showing no care for him at all? Why blindside him at the very worst moment of his life, without ever having attempted a conversation to clear up confusion? Why choose that moment except to follow the path of evil?
As human beings, they owed him the bare minimum of honesty and decency. As a father, he gave them everything—even their very lives. Even having each other exists only because of him. Their choices reveal tendencies that are sociopathic, sadistic, and at times psychopathic—not of God, but of the Devil.
Authors Notes
There were many tears in the documentary. But tears do not change the fact that nothing was actually stated to have happened. The events were only subtly implied, which revealed that Joann herself was not certain that anything had occurred at all. It is deeply troubling that they could produce a documentary making such dark and sinister suggestions while being careful to say that nothing actually happened.
The implications, combined with the false rumors spread about their father, led many viewers to conclude that he must have harmed her, despite Joann never explicitly claiming that anything occurred, only hinting at it. The fact that listeners lacked the integrity and diligence to question what was being implied is deeply concerning, and it made me profoundly uneasy about the state of discernment in our world.
(1)
Here are my other thoughts on these issues:
Children are always highly susceptible to suggestion and to the environment in which they grow. Scientific research has shown that environmental influences often outweigh genetic factors in shaping a child’s development. Anyone who denies this lacks a fundamental understanding of human growth and development.
We live in a world that constantly and subconsciously programs children through media, teaching them ideas that are unhealthy, unhelpful, and often contrary to making loving and moral choices. It is our responsibility to guide children so that their influences come only from goodness, from God, and from His words and direction.
The modern concept of “love” has become distorted, often replacing God for some. Yet only God possesses a truly healthy understanding of love. The word “love” once held deep and enduring meaning, but today it is often reduced to fleeting feelings of euphoria or warmth, or even associated with experiences induced by drugs, alcohol, or empty thrills.
People crave love, yet they seek it in all the wrong places.
True love is respect. Healthy love is kind, empathetic, and selfless. It embodies strength, humility, and gentleness. At times, love also requires discipline, direction, and firmness—setting boundaries to protect and guide. Love is not giving children unchecked freedom or boundaries so loose that they have no structure, nor is it discipline applied inconsistently, only when convenient or selective. Without proper guidance, children fail to develop respect for those who truly love them, and they lose the ability to recognize what is genuinely good and true.
When children are led astray by the very people they rely on most, they seek love in every wrong place: trauma bonds, substances, casual sex, rock and roll, social media relationships, music, fame, and attention.
Failing to provide children with healthy boundaries under God, a stable home environment, and true role models leads to a profound disconnection—from themselves, from what is normal, from what is healthy, and from what is good and whole.
Left unchecked, they will grow to reject what is good and embrace what is evil. They will fail to recognize love in its purest form. They will sabotage their own lives, eventually destroy themselves, and blame the world for the consequences.
We are in such a sociopathic, narcissistic society today—a godless world right now. Where it’s flipped, and you may instantly think in this story that the crime was against the child. But in this story, the crime was against the father, from his own grown children and through the influence of their environment.
The Last Days
“Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. 2 People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious; 3 they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce; they will hate the good; 4 they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God; 5 they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.” –
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Proverbs 14:1
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
The most troubling aspect of this disconnection is that grown adult children often don’t recognize it as wrong. They’ve witnessed one parent act in the same way, under the guise of “truth-telling” or “healing.” But falsely accusing someone of a serious crime—especially when authorities have already proven it untrue—is, in fact, pure defamation.
When a primary parent struggles with untreated mental health issues, the effects ripple outward, shaping their children’s behavior, thought patterns, and emotional responses. Anxiety, depression, pathological lying, delusions, disconnection from reality, narcissism, sociopathy, manipulative storytelling, disregard for the law, and even self-objectification can all be passed down. Most importantly, trauma itself can be transferred from parent to child.
Healing from childhood trauma is often a decades-long process, sometimes lasting into middle age—or never fully occurring.
I share this as a caution for those raising young children. Most children are inherently kind, sweet, and empathetic. But their environment profoundly shapes who they become. Children absorb the behaviors, beliefs, and responses of the primary caregiver—or, often, the parent of the same gender. This happens largely subconsciously until it becomes ingrained.
If a parent is violent, disconnected from reality, or narcissistic, a child may adopt those traits. If a parent disregards boundaries or the law, children may grow up blind to the same protections. In short, children often mirror the environment they are raised in—good or bad.
For anyone considering parenthood: if you are not willing to change, to cultivate a healthier environment, or to choose better partners and a better lifestyle, do not have children. Sexual desire without foresight can produce lifelong consequences. Learn to consider the worst-case scenario before making life-altering decisions like marriage or parenthood—because your choices directly shape lives.
Children are a blessing from God. But when they are raised in a home lacking love, truth, and stability, they can grow up to perpetuate harm rather than goodness. I speak this with all the love in my heart for Robert’s children. Yet, they may not recognize it as love, because the truth has been absent from their home. They have been fed lies disguised as truths—delusions and manipulations presented as reality.
They are now adults, with patterns of thought and behavior far more concrete. The responsibility for recognizing truth and pursuing personal growth now lies squarely with them.
“Social learning theory states that children learn by observing the behavior of others, so parenting styles and the child’s learned experiences determine whether they behave politely or aggressively in specific situations.
By contrast, learning’s genetic component encompasses the biological foundation of cognitive processes, as explained in Frontiers in Psychology. Genetic and epigenetic contributions to the learning process are inheritable and interact with behavioral learning, such as study habits and the availability of educational resources.” (2)
“The field of behavioral genetics studies how nature and nurture combine to affect a child’s development. It states that while genetics have a greater overall impact on a person’s makeup than their family environment does, most of an individual’s behavioral traits cannot be traced to specific genes or family characteristics. Instead, each human behavioral trait is associated with a great number of genetic variants, each of which contributes a very small amount to the expression of the trait.
Within the complex relationship between a child’s genetic makeup and learned experiences, distinctions can be drawn between the human traits that children are born with and those that result from their environment.” (2)
They will need a strength far greater than their own, a will to reshape the thoughts and patterns that have been twisted since childhood. They will need God to enter fully—mind, heart, and soul—to sever the hold of evil, to cut away the darkness, and to call it by its name.
They will need an unwavering devotion to righteousness, to the pursuit of right thinking, until it takes root and hardens into the very foundation of who they are.
Robert and I will continue to pray for them—prayers for healing through God, for transformation through God, for the blossoming of the selves they were always meant to be, had love and home been their inheritance. We pray they turn from paths of irreversible harm or even criminal choices, and instead make decisions that lead them toward God, toward life, toward love and joy. Even when those choices are the most difficult, the heaviest, and the most demanding of courage, may they rise to meet them, hand in hand with God.
“Prayer for family unity and peace
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, I ask you to bless my family with unity and peace. You know where we are close and where we are divided. You know what we speak about openly and what we hide in silence. I ask you to bring light where there is confusion and healing where there is hurt.
Lord Jesus, make our family a place of charity. Teach us to be quick to forgive and slow to accuse. Teach us to assume good will when possible. Teach us to speak truth without cruelty. Protect us from patterns that repeat the same wounds.
Your Word calls us to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God has forgiven us in Christ. I ask you to make that mercy real in our family life. Give us the grace to begin again. Give us the grace to apologize without excuses. Give us the grace to receive apology without holding debt.
Holy Spirit, guide our conversations. If we must discuss difficult matters, give us calm. If we must make decisions, give us wisdom. If we must face change, give us courage. Protect our family from bitterness and from the temptation to sever love for the sake of pride
Father, I entrust each member of my family to you. Bless those who are near and those who are far. Bless those who are joyful and those who are suffering. Bless those who are strong in faith and those who are struggling. Draw us closer to you, and as we draw closer to you, draw us closer to one another.
Mary, mother of the Church, pray for our family. Saints of God, pray for us. Holy angels, watch over our home.
Father, let your peace rest upon us. Let our love be steady. Let our unity be protected by your grace.
Father, protect us from divisions that come from pride. Help us admit when we are wrong. Help us release the need to be right. Help us ask questions rather than assume motives. Help us make room for one another’s growth.
Lord, bless our family gatherings, our phone calls, and our daily interactions. Protect them from sarcasm and from bitterness. Let our family be a place where truth is spoken with love, where boundaries are respected, and where mercy is practiced.
Holy Spirit, give us the courage to reconcile when reconciliation is possible. Give us the patience to wait when timing is not right. Give us the wisdom to seek help when we need it. Lead our family in the way of peace.
Father, protect our family from comparisons that stir envy and from old stories that keep wounds open. Help us speak about the past with honesty and without cruelty. Help us remember the good you have done, even in difficult seasons. Teach us to honor one another’s limits and to respect one another’s responsibilities.
Lord Jesus, make our family a school of mercy. Let us learn to bless one another, to encourage one another, and to correct one another with gentleness. When distance exists, show us what steps are possible. When reconciliation is not yet possible, protect us from bitterness and help us remain faithful to charity.
Amen.“
†
Robert’s Redemption: Women, Choices, and Faith
Robert leads with love. He is a man of humility, strength, resilience, and unshakable faith. He is grounded in reality, and those who know him say his greatest gift is his realness—his authenticity in a world of pretense.
His one weakness—a chapter he left far behind—was the attention of women drawn to his fame. Women flocked to him, preyed on him, stalked him, begged and lied to get close.
He repented fully (repentance: changing your behavior and making a commitment to do better), over six years ago. He chose monogamy with me, self-respect, and above all, God.
Has his journey toward righteousness been perfect? No—who among us can claim perfection? But when it comes to women, that chapter is closed. He has not looked back, not once. You may say circumstance left him no choice, but I gave him a choice. I gave him freedom, free will, for the entirety of our six-plus years together—and he still chose God, me, and monogamy. He turned them all away.
Superficially, things he said online while incarcerated were never reflective of his true life—those were entangled in legal maneuvering, attorney strategies, and the impossible need to protect himself.
Even in the early days of our relationship—what we called simply “kicking it”—he was resolute to keep women away. His true struggle was never desire, but knowing how to say no safely and set boundaries with women. He learned, he grew, and he became steadfast.
He is responsible for his past choices, yes, but they do not define the man he is, nor the purity of his soul—the purest I have ever known. By far.
Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
The Book of Sirach, particularly Chapter 3, heavily emphasizes the importance of honoring and respecting one’s father, stating that those who fear the Lord will honor their father and serve their parents as masters; it also highlights the lasting benefits of caring for a father in his old age, considering it a form of sin offering.
Sirach 3:2-3
“Honor your father in word and deed, that you may receive a blessing from him; for a father’s blessing establishes the houses of children, but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations.”
Sirach 3:8
“Those who fear the Lord honor their father, and serve their parents as masters.”
Sirach 3:12-13
“My child, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him in his lifetime; even if his mind fails, be considerate of him; do not despise him because you are in your prime.”
Sirach 3:14
“Kindness to a father will not be forgotten; it will serve as a sin offering—it will take lasting root.”
References:
1.Verhaar, S., Matthewson, M. L., & Bentley, C. (2022). The Impact of Parental Alienating Behaviours on the Mental Health of Adults Alienated in Childhood. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 9(4), 475. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9040475
2. Marrickville University. (2020). Nature vs. Nurture Child Development: Exploring Key Differences; https://online.maryville.edu/blog/nature-vs-nurture-child-development/
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