Knowing that its almost December, and that I will be putting up a tree, my mum told me today that she doesn't want to be invited over to my place while any decorations are up. She later sent me the following SMS: (edited for grammer & spelling)
"I wanted to say that, as you know all the rubbish about Santa Claus, when you have kids will you allow them to be deceived with this lie? I can you honestly tell you how upsetting it is knowing that you celebrate Xmas yet know it's not a Christian holiday. I found this out before I left the UK [in 1968] and when JW's showed me I felt like I had hit gold and I was also angry. Wild horses could not make me celebrate it again. I'm free!"
I immediately saw the irony of what she had written, so I cheekily sent back the following reply:
"I like the way you worded your message, so I thought I would substitite some of the ideas to explain my perspective - 'As I now know all the rubbish about JW teachings, when I have kids will I allow them to be deceived with that same lie? I can honestly tell you how upsetting it is knowing that I used to beleive those teachings now that I know its not from the bible. I found this when I pulled apart what I was taught. I felt like I had hit gold and I was also angry. Wild horses could not make me believe it again. I'm free!' "
Unfortunately my mum doesn't seem to be able to recognise a logical argument, and proceeded to reply about her right to freedom of expression and how many other people don't believe in Christmas either. Sigh. Oh well, at least I got a good laugh from the irony of it all.
Owen.
...OUTLAW