Situation ugly. Long story short - adult children have refused contact with df'd father for a few years. (except for the initial obligatory hate letter full of references to Satan and some disgusting name calling). He backed off with respect to their feelings so now a few years later decides to send one of them an anniversary card with a small gift card inside for a dinner out. There was no big message inside except a simple best wishes and love. Thats it. All that was desired was to keep the lines of communication open.
The card was returned today with a message included informing him that 'as servants of Jehovah, we refrain from this type of contact with disfellowshipped ones. Please contact us only in family emergency situations'.
I'm so ticked off I could scream!!!!!!!! We've been kicked in the head and stomped on over and over by the family and this type of crap - so my question is this - what type of family business is it we should contact the kids and other family with? The son got married and dad was warned to stay away. We drove a thousand miles to go to a family JW funeral and got a note telling us not to visit with mom and sis. It's just never ending and I'm really fed up. I feel in actuality that I have no obligation to any of the family so what constitutes family business to them? Obviously not funerals. Obviously not weddings or births. Do they really expect me to call them if their father was hurt or sick? Or dead? What would be the point - isn't the emergency when you are alive?
I'm so ticked that I feel like writing the nasty little ingrate back to ask her to provide me a list of what she deems emergency situations - just so I can post it by the fridge....in case we really have one you know. I fully comprehend the Witness way of thinking but this goes beyond the pale...and I have to ask - what are family emergency situations? What scriptures constitute family business? What scriptures point to honouring your parents? This has been a long long day and getting the letter was the straw that broke this camel - I think I've had it with the temper tantrums, the insensitivity, the selfishness, arrogance, lack of compassion and blatant lack of respect.
Just venting cos I can't sleep now and this was playing with my head. A quarter of me says 'send a letter telling them in no uncertain terms that they will be contacted under NO circumstances' again - have a nice life and then the other 3/4 of me says 'don't bother' . Witnesses are incapable of honest communication - they run and hide behind the cover of the society and spout their drivel so that they don't have to be honest with anyone including themselves. sammieswife.