Christmas, Mother's Day etc etc..

Mikado

it's Mother's Day today, a lovely tradition that probably raises lots of thoughts and emotions in ex JWS..

I was walking around the local supermarket and remembered my family's next door neighbours, who were very intellectually disabled.

in hindsight they probably weren't able to look after themselves, as they lived in absolute squalor.

They didn't have two coins to rub together, yet they went to the effort to buy my family a card and get them a small gift.

I was newly out, and watched in absolute shame and horror as my mother said, in a very superior manner " we don't celebrate Christmas",

It's something I think of often with shame... I too was that superior... to my shame.

ShirleyW

Mikado, Now that you know better, you do better

Yeah, I remember the pompous attitudes of the Dubs when I was growing up also, which by the way they still have.

rebel8

That is such a horrible story. jws don't have basic social skills. The need to feel superior to others and recruit others at every moment overpowers basic decency.

I resumed holiday celebrations after walking away from the organization for good in 2010. Prior to that year, I always took a tactful approach with others with respect to holidays. I always thanked others when they gave me holiday greetings and, though careful not to reply in kind, I made sure to give a response that would be appreciated.

Once I began celebrating again, I got a great deal of joy and satisfaction in doing so. My father had died in 1991 and I never gave him a birthday or Father's Day gift or greeting once I became a Witness. I am glad that I corrected that mistake with my mother before she died in November of last year, celebrating Mother's Day and her birthday as well as the other holidays. Now I look forward to birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, enjoying them with both family and friends. I'll be sending Mother's Day greetings to my married sister tomorrow, something I'm sure she will enjoy. And despite their denials, I believe that many Witnesses secretly wish they could do the same. Some must be asking themselves what kind of religion would forbid its members to show love, honor and respect to their mothers? Or why would its leaders twist and pervert scriptures to deny love and joy that are a natural part of human existence unless, as we've discussed elsewhere in this space, it is to keep iron-clad control over other believers?

Quendi

NeverKnew

I was once told by a gloating JW that JWs appreciate their loved ones year round.

After the explanation I responded in kind. "I'm baffled as to how one can believe that they can appreciate their Mom (Mothers Day), child (birthday), lover (valentines day), father (Fathers Day), or family (Christmas) on 364 days of a year but if an appreciation is shown on a date that everyone else customarily celebrates the same person, God will be disappointed in you? ... So if an Australian JW gives his mom a gift on an American holiday called Mothers Day, how does he get forgiveness?"