Merry Christmas everybody!
Somebody here committed a random act of Christmas kindness and made me cry and nearly made my kids choke up. You know that big lump you get in your throat when you try not to cry? You know who you are and I thank you again. It truly was the kindest most random thing anyone has ever done. And now the story is spreading among my friends and they too get that lump and some can only mumble, 'that's the nicest thing I have heard in awhile'. I shall pay if forward as will some others, you have given them ideas!
Other thanks are in order as long as I'm at it. To all of you here who tell your stories, who make me cry, laugh, sadden me, and infuriate me, I thank you for your courage. To those who write such thought provoking threads and the silly ones too! To those who organize the Secret Santa's, Christmas Card lists, and the vigils and of course Simon, I thank you all.
To those who reply to what may seem like 'stupid' questions (yes, I know, there are no stupid questions) and reply to pm's because at times we are afraid to ask because it may 'out' us somehow. To those who still go to the kh and supply us with covert info I thank you.
When I first lurked and then began posting it seemed such a daunting place. First of all, you all seemed to speak another language, then I not only had to brush up on my own Bible and faith but learn the crazy ways of the wt! Now, if you start from 1874 that is a truly daunting task I tell you! Then, I was not an ex jw, nor could I technically be called an 'apostate', just where did I fit in? Yet, you all tried to help and continue to, my thanks again.
And there is another special friend I have met here, on another continent but still my friend. This friend does not post much but I wish he would at times. He knows something about everything and is very good doctrinally/biblically/ and in jwism. He is a cat lover what more needs to be said? Has to be 'good people' right? I could not say enough about this person but it would probably embarrass him.
Now I am in the position to offer some comfort (I hope) to a new ubm who may be lurking. I have no special wisdom or answers, I wish I did, as do we all. I guess I could offer the mistakes I have made? Because I think I may be the master at those! I hope to hear from her and she will tell me he has 'seen the light' and all is well but I am far to familiar with the reality of it and would not want to lead her on to false hopes. Not that she has no hope, I do see some holes that are hopeful. For those that see the above as making no sense nevermind, it will make sense to her. There is always hope and I truly hope that I can congratulate her one day soon and wish it was my jw too.
Through the years I have often been the Dear Abby of people, I have no idea why. A secret tattoo across my forhead I don't see? Anyway, I can't tell you how often people have said, 'I always remember what you said......' (all pre jw days) and I wonder 'oh, crap I hope I said the right thing!' then they tell me and it at times is some rather profound thing and I think, 'I said that? damn, that was pretty good' so you never know how your words can really affect someones life. I hope in the future I will be more thoughtful of what I say. It is easy to be flippant and where jw's are concerned it sure is easy to be angry!
You all have helped my family and myself, my gratitude.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!