"This was one of the best hreads ever... so sad, but would any of us rather be pushing doorbells Saturday? Nah, I loved my dad but damn, I won't lie for any man....I won't live my life as a lie"
Amen, Dawg, and I think a lot of us here love you...
Tell Us About Your JW Father If You Had One.
by new boy 58 Replies latest jw friends
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VoidEater
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ex-nj-jw
My dad was a very strict, stern when it came to dishing out the beatings and discipline to the boys. He would beat the crap out of them for the least thing. My mom made up for that by taking it out on the girls, that is except for the youngest (she does no wrong)
An elder for as long as I remember except when he had to step down because one of his heathen children did something to break the JW rules. He was and still is a very judgemental person and loves to argue his point on even the most insignificant of things.
I love my dad but I hated how he acted towards my brothers. I hesitate to call it abuse but it was in no uncertain terms.
There was no understanding from either parent growing up even if you weren't wrong or weren't involved if someone else said you were there you were just as guilty.
nj
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restrangled
My dad was born as an unwanted child to a 15 year old girl in the mountains of NC. His last memory of that place was riding on the back of a truck watching is beloved dog chasing after him.....he had to leave him behind, as his mom was marrying a man out of the newspaper want ads in Chicago.
He got the "JW Truth" in his late teens and met my second generation JW mom in his twenties. They married in 1955.
My father was eventually made an elder in the early 70's, I remember the assembly wherein they announced the new arrangement. He spent vacation after vaction working at assemblies, in charge of various arrangements etc. He was a staunch supporter of the society and we paid the piper for any errors as kids....in later years it was discovered he was a manic depressive.....it made for a very volatlie home life.
He took it very seriously at first, you know, the briefcase full of official stuff, Sunday talks, on the DFing committee, etc.....the only problem was my father was a math expert.....after 1975 he was furious.
He worked for a large company in Chicago and worked his way up to top estimator for a painting company with no college education. He was also very charming. He had huge accounts. The entire city of Chicago with the orginal Mayor Daley. The accounts he held were overpasses for the entire city, White Sox Park, Cambell Soup, and finally the complete renovation of the Chicago Theatre.
During that time period he started figuring out problems with 607, 1914, etc. etc. In the mean time my brothers and I as teenagers wound up bringing him to his knees in front of other moron elders. He finally resigned and eventually was considered an apostate by the late 90's.....just when the internet was starting up.
He found the letter to Hitler from the then governing body and a lot more crap. My mother never forgave him.
He died at age 64 of Bone Cancer due to the chemicals he was exposed to in his business.
I loved him dearly, but what a life we had.
r.
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bluesbreaker59
My father was a great father to me. Truly a brilliant man, very, very sharp on a variety of subjects, never went to college because it was forbidden back then. Very loving, caring and honest man. He was brought into the truth by my grandma when he was 6. His father was raised a Quaker, and was a farmer, and never became a witness. My father met my non-witness mother when he was 20 and she was 16. She was a cheerleader and he was in radio. Well pretty soon, mom was pregnant and they got married. Well they had issues, because dad was a work-a-holic with a short temper (though not abusive), and mom was too young to be a wife and mother, and was too horny. So mom cheated on dad, and they got divorced. I chose to live with my dad, and he raised me from the time I was 6 mostly on his own. He was an excellent father, cooked, cleaned, told me he loved me, hugged me, and did everything for me. He still worked alot as a farmer, and after a few years he met my step mom. She was a tyrant to me, when dad wasn't around. My teen years were tough, because I was a big, strong good looking kid that wanted to play football and date. Well, I started living a double life at about 15, messing around with my girlfriend at 16, and was on reproof at 17. Dad always gave me a lot of freedom, and never really asked me what I was doing, or who I was doing things with, he just trusted me to "use my head". He helped me out all through life, and even advised me not to rush into marriage, then when that went bad, he helped me pick up the pieces of my life after my divorce. When I was going to be disfellowshipped he told me how much he loved me, and always would, and that he hated the thought of not talking to me. He begged me to reconsider, and told me no matter what he'll always do anything for me. I love my dad, there is nothing I wouldn't do for him, I'd take a bullet for him in a heart beat. He was my father, my mother, and my best friend, all rolled into one. I miss him each and every day.
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dawg
All stories are so sad, but what are we to do? We've already done what;s right, ehy can't they see this is all bullshit?
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sweetstuff
My dad wasn't a perfect father, he was pretty strict about meetings, service, etc. He had a short fuse and my brothers bared the worst of it. Not affectionate or complimentry, he thought it was his job to keep us "humble". But I do have good memories of him as well, he was and is a great husband, has always treated my mom like she is his queen. Looking back on what a screwed up family he came from, I can honestly say, he did pretty good, religion aside, at being a dad. He's mellowed alot over the years and I know for a fact, no one is harder on him, than him. He beats himself up alot for "failing" as a father, but really, he taught us some good things too, not to be hurtful or selfish. Strong values that I attribute to him, not the JWs. He always hated any type of injustice and stood up to more than one elder when he saw it happen. It didn't always make him popular, but they all learned to respect him and the fact that he wouldnt' take any crap from anyone. He never preaches at me, even though I am sure he wants to, he knows I am as stubborn as he is.
All in all, I am thankful for the man he is, I just wish he had never become a JW, I think his life and ours would have been alot easier and less stressful.
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restrangled
Dawg....
We've already done what;s right, ehy can't they see this is all bullshit?
Yes we have, but each individual has to see for themselves. We can point out the problems, lies, etc., but we can't make them think unless they want to.
("You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.")
r.
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changeling
A walking contradiction
Strict and mean when I was little
A cong. servant and then elder
Narcissistic, egomaniac
Funny
Brilliant
Loves animals
Is beloved by the cong.
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BIG D
Big hugs and kisses to all who bear all the turmoil and disfunctionality of being raised a jw, let alone brought up with so many heartache stories, i am always amazed since i joined this site, about the similar stories i read and hear, it makes me feel as though i have found true friends that know exactly how i feel, i thankyou one and all!!!!!!!!!
big d
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primitivegenius
WOW awesome thread guys
my dad is the kinda elder you want in your congregation. he will put the problems of others ahead of most anything. if you need him he will be there for you. tries to be balanced but he will take into consideration your reputation and history when makeing decisions in elderland. he has even put aside seeking justice when wronged just to protect the REPUTATION of the congregation.
unfortunately while he was doing this the family got neglected, and bore the brunt of his hypoglosemic rages. a subject that came to a head several times growing up with arguments and fighting between my mom and him. i took it pretty well but im stronger than my sister, she kinda shattered under it......... became depressed (tho can say that was from being a jw) dropped out of school and was sick off and on ever since.
my dad works his butt off for the congregation...... sometimes doing half the parts or better to help out when people cancell......... he was a PO for 15 yrs and is PO again in another congregation. he has the respect of his peers........... except for those who are jealous of him. very active in building KH and went to help the jw victims of katrina( nonjw be damned)
growing up i didnt see him to much since he spent so much time working and being away for work. he had a temper which he inherited from his father.............and i got from him. so hard to learn anything from him because he wants me to do it perfectly like he does............ and its my first time. we worked together.............. guess what jobs we had????? janitorial............... and we got along famously.
then i left his world................. moved away........... started going to another church......... and he hasnt spoken to me but three times since he found that out. hasnt seen his only grandchild............. although he drove half way here about 4 or more times to work on an assembly hall........... NICE.