"we don't need holidays as an excuse to give gifts to our children"

by Sour Grapes 41 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • thetrueone
    thetrueone

    thetrueone, It's a shame you only see the "dark side" of Christmas. Every light casts a shadow, just as every cloud has a silver lining.

    Sure there are positives to Christmas one can see and observe.

    My family used to get together around Xmas and we are all once JWS.

    But like the title of the thread suggests you don't need to have a specific date to do good works of charity.

    One can also see a lot of bad things such as desperation, anxiety and depression.

    Are you aware of the increase in suicides at this time of year ?

    Should compassion and empathy have to be strictly held to one day a year, by a fictitious organized religious date.

    Quite frankly I would say this festivity highlights the disparity between the have and have nots, the rich and the poor,

    because of its highly commercial nature. Is that an an act of compassion or empathy in a social perspective ?

  • ziddina
    ziddina
    "...The only problem that I saw with what mom said is that I no longer got wrapped gifts. I really don't remember receiving many unwrapped gifts either..."

    Exactly!!

    An ugly coldness of the soul appeared to set in, once people became Jehovah's Witnesses.... Children were no longer valued; unbelieving spouses were denigrated and often blackmailed into joining; the "joy" of life was sucked out of the JW convert...

  • Retrovirus
    Retrovirus

    thetrueone, I agree with much of your post.

    Should compassion and empathy have to be strictly held to one day a year, by a fictitious organized religious date.

    Obviously not, and they obviously are not! The Christmas "extra" to the charities was in addition to regular and structured support. It was more like a gift to someone we knew. Nor do I house backpackers out of any charity; that had to do with networking and a hostel with bedbugs.

    One can also see a lot of bad things such as desperation, anxiety and depression.

    Are you aware of the increase in suicides at this time of year ?

    Yes indeed. And I have personal experience of the strains of a dysfunctional family spending time together. Also I have two acquaintances who choose to spend the day alone, and know of their isolation and dread of the day. Neither is compelled to be alone. Again, no light without dark.

    Quite frankly I would say this festivity highlights the disparity between the have and have nots

    If that's what you're looking for, you can find it. But it's not how I'd describe the celebrations at the orphanages, nor the volunteer-staffed dinners for homeless people.

    because of its highly commercial nature

    Ah, I see a difference between commercial exploitation and "commercial nature". Other celebratory days, as well as non-celebratory occaisions are equally exploited. As for the canned carols, yes, they grate on me too!

    To get back to shouting distance of the topic, I certainly give and receive presents at other times of the year. Wrapped presents on birthdays, and special occaisions. Thougtful little "finds" at any time. And Christmas is still special - but, as MrMonroe said, it can't be compulsory, nor forbidden.

  • GLTirebiter
    GLTirebiter

    the "joy" of life was sucked out of the JW convert...

    .. and the unbelieving spouse, and the children!

  • Band on the Run
    Band on the Run

    I used to cry my heart out as a child b/c of this. If I ever received a gift or toy at any time of year, I would not mind. The neighbor's kids in a working poor neighborhood often declined to play with us b/c we had no toys. If we had a single ball between us, we were doing well. To this day, I tear up when I see kids in a store with their parents picking out a toy.

    I kept telling them that we did not have toys at any time. Somehow I thought they were unaware. So I decided to jot their memory. As I grew older, I knew they just hated children. We did have very vivid imaginations, though.

  • ziddina
    ziddina

    LOL @ GLTirebiter...

    Exactly!!

  • mamochan13
    mamochan13

    As a child I don't think I ever received a wrapped gift from my parents. My grandparents celebrated xmas so I'd get some from them. My mother used to joke that my dad like that she was a JW because he didn't have to buy gifts for anyone ever. And now that I think about it...they didn't.

  • EmptyInside
    EmptyInside

    I'm not going to say I felt deprived,but I have never received a wrapped present. And I must confess,I don't even know how to gift wrap a present. I'd have them do it for me at various stores when I bought a shower gift or gift for a wedding. Now,I mostly give money.

  • Shanagirl
    Shanagirl

    I believe we have Universal Laws of Love and Gratittude. It's putting the needs and happiness of others above ones own. It's kind of a sacred contract we all come into the world with. Christ taught that Law of Love and this is what it is to be one with the Supreme All of the universe. Our Personal Agenda is generally one that satisfies teh flesh. The Divine Agenda generally is on that serves the needs of many to whome you choose to obligate yourself and your energies to as an act of devotion to the Divine Supreme Being.

    Christmas begins at home within your own psyche, your own awareness, and does move outward to manifest its radiance into the world about. This Awareness indicates that the Spirit of Christmas expresses the Law of Love, and the Law of Gratitude expresses the action of generosity and affection, and allows entities to cast their bread upon the waters without knowing where, how, whence, or if it shall return to them. This is the only true gift.

    The Spirit of Christmas allows wise entities that opportunity to present their presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ Consciousness within each other.

    The Spirit of Christmas allows each entity the opportunity to graciously receive such gifts from others, even as the Christchild, (before his recognition as the Christ by the masses), received those gifts from the wisemen who recognized the Christ that lived behind the unlikely situation of the lowly stable, the manger, the camel and sheep, and the tiny babe in arms.

    This indicates that action which occurred in that town of Bethlehem some 2000 years ago as that which is related unto the paradox; as that which ushered into the Piscean Age the Crystal Consciousness, being ushered in a form which would be palatable to entities during this era. This indicates that in each age there is a messiah who does personify the qualities and nature of that age; that these messiahs are often the creation of those around as much as of that force which is within. Awareness indicates the messiah of any age as resulting from the needs of the entities of that age and in that flux of consciousness related to and associated with that age.

    This suggests that the action of the paradox, wherein the microcosmic image reflects the macrocosm, that this is the nature of that action which occurred on this plane some 2000 years ago. This indicates that this also had steps between wherein the physical microcosmic creation, of that birth of Christ, the Child, as also a representation of the Christ Consciousness, the purity, the clarity which was being emanated and brought about through certain rites, rituals, teachings and associations in relationship, which resulted from the actions and was involved in the actions of the Essenes. I wish you to understand the word ‘Essene' as related to the word "Essence," This Awareness indicates that actions of that time, by those Essenes did help to manifest that consciousness whereby the Crystal Consciousness of the Christ could emanate itself through the child known as Jesus. This Awareness indicates that this was done also in Java with the Buddha.

    In this present time there is the possibility and the opportunity for entities to bring about those children of high levels of awareness by allowing these children the environment, the space, the vibratory situations, the faith and the proper social situations whereby the Christ Consciousness may manifest and develop without being driven out by excessive distortions, perversions and frustrations.

    This is in the coming years there shall be many, many children who shall be likened unto the Holy Child. That the movement in this direction begins within the individual, wherein the child within, the Holy Being within each and everyone of you which needs its nourishment and needs certain attention, does begin to grow and manifest and give you Its blessing; and does begin to bring your life into order whereby you, yourself, may emanate the Christ Consciousness from within.

    The Spirit of Christmas recognizes the Christchild growing behind each and every unlikely scene, each and every unlikely face and situation, and those who are wise will bring gifts to nurture and devotion to encourage the growth and development of that Christchild within each face, each scene, each situation.

    The Spirit of Christmas is a dedication and devotion in mass to the Christ within yourself and others.

    This Awareness suggests you keep this Holiday sacred and Holy and that you keep yourself sacred and Holy, and that you make each day a Holyday.

    This Awareness indicates The Law of Gratitude is that sense of satisfaction where energy which has been given receives a certain reward. Energy that is given moves out on that curved and unequal line and when extended far enough can only return to its source bearing gifts.

    This Awareness indicates The Law of Love is that Law which places the welfare and the concern and the feelings of others above self. The Law of Love is that close affinity with all forces that you associate with as good. The Law of Love is that force which denies the existence of evil in the world, that Resists Not. For love follows the course of least resistance.

    This Awareness suggests the greatest gift that any entity can give to another is that portion of themselves which is given with love and which has no strings attached and no expectations. This suggests that in giving yourself, the Spirit of Christ moves in communion between you.

    Shana

  • thetrueone
    thetrueone

    Shana your post is almost unreadable for the size of the text (font size) you are using.

    Highlight the whole post , then select 3(12pt) in the tool bar.

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