Letter from Mom... (page 3)

Odrade

Thanks LT for the typo help, that stuff drives me nuts as anyone can see by my multiple edits. Both the comments are noted about leaving out the "cross" comment. I'm wavering on that one. I put it in there because it was such a critical issue for me. On the other hand, I say next to nothing about the blood issue, charity, or other doctrinal things, so I'm leaning toward discarding that as a not-so-useful distraction.

I thought about putting in some scriptural refutation of the disfellowshipping policies, but that added several more pages, and I started to bog down in minutiae. Then I thought that it is their doctrine, so let the burden of proof be upon them. If they wish to discuss specifics, we can do that face to face, as my husband is very willing to do so, and has an incredible memory for scripture detail, argumentation and their own WT references, even after 4 years of being gone from it.

Thank you all for the comments. I really appreciate those who have taken the time to not only read this super-long letter, but to post observations and encouragement.

*kicks mav* nice beard heeheehee *pulls hair and runs*

juni

Narkissos said:

Excellent letter Odrade, really. Very well thought and put.
If you are looking for something to drop out I'd suggest the short paragraph about the cross. That would not shorten the letter much, but imho this purely religious topic might (irrationally) trigger the JW defensive mode unnecessarily and detract from the other issues which all have in common serious human consequences.

I agree w/Nark on this too Odrade. Your letter was very coherent and well thought out.

I wish you and your family the best.

Juni

Sassy

Wow.. I read your mom's letter and felt like I was reading one from my mother.. well what things my mother would say to me if she had my address to write me.. (when I moved, I did not give her a forwarding)

Your response back was excellent. I wish I was so talented with words. I am sure they will fall of deaf ears, however, if there was a chance they could be reached at all, you sure have it all in there..

Good luck.. my heart goes out to you

grey matters

Wow. That is a great letter. What I liked about it is that you are very clear, yet calm and kind in your response.

My parents and I currently have the kind of uneasy truce that it sounds like you have had with your mother. I have been in anticipation of the same kind of communication from my mother at some point in the future. The same kind of passive/aggressive, guilt laden letter that you got. The problem is, I have not been able to formulate an appropriate response. I have spent lots of time having imaginary arguments with them, so that I can be prepared with counter arguments to their arguments. But I can feel the futility of that before it even starts. And my concern is that it will devolve into a very heated discussion which will cause irreperable harm on both sides. I need to find a way to dial back the anger I feel so that I can finish on the note that you did, expressing love for them. Thanks very much for posting those letters. Regardless of how it works out, you did a great job with that response.

Makena1

Aloha Odrade and bravo. Its been a long time since Sabine and I had that enjoyable dinner with you and your husband. Although we do not post that often anymore, when I see posts from people that we know, I take time to read. Wow - and what a read your letter to your mother was. Extremely well written. Even at my most indoctrinated, what you wrote would give me pause. Wishing you and all others who have these kind of dealings with family DA BEST!!! Hugs, Mak and Sabine

Odrade

Thank you Mak, for taking the time. I think of you and your family from time to time. My parents are in your neighborhood right now. If you've walked Makena beach anytime in the last week, you've probably passed my father sitting in a beach chair or snorkeling for turtles. I wish he could speak to you for just a minute with an open mind. Under other circumstances, I think he'd really like you.

Sassy

I was talking to a mutal friend tonight.. we both decided that letter was academy award material.. (Your reply I mean)

JWdaughter

I have no advice. . .Your letter is perfect. Brave. Loving, reasoned and while I know that it technically was not brief, it was as brief as you could hope to have made it. I do hope she actually reads it all! I know some JWs would discard it at a certain point, but she did ASK, so I think she has an obligation to read your response. I hope she does! I am rather in awe at your missive. Wish I had been so erudite when I made the decision. Good luck!

penny2

Odrade, your mom sounds like a bright, intelligent woman. I think your letter is just right for her.

penny2

exjdub

My main concern is that the letter is so long. I do tend to shoot information out of a fire-hose when making a reply.

Odrade,

I think a letter is too long when it does not flow well. I thought your letter flowed perfectly and it was easy to read every word. That is one to be proud of. What came through the loudest was that you were writing from the heart and your empathy and kindness came through very strongly. Nice Job!

exjdub

Letter from Mom...

Share this