It is so nice to start actually believing that my mom wants to have a relationship with me and my kids again. There was awhile, where it was in question, and she wasn't sure if she was supposed to associate with us or not. I think the stand that my sister has taken against me, is actually causing my mom to start doubting whether it is a good idea to follow this cruel example of "love" as defined by the Watchtower.
We got a new trampoline for the kids, and watched them jump on it and do tricks. My parents were the first in our town, back in 1977, to get a trampoline. I could tell that she was pleased by this choice, as she had seen the value of this investment for herself. (20 years, no injuries... no safety net, just safe rules and proper play). We enjoyed talking about memories from those days.
My mom asked me if the "Witnesses" have been back. I told her they had, and that I've had some very in depth discussions with them. I am pleased that my elderette, Miss K, is willing to address my concerns and questions. It is nice to have someone brave enough to stop and explain her beliefs. I told her, "She is very good, and I am learning a lot from her. I am learning how they..." (then I had to think how to phrase it nicely haha)
My mom said, "How they what...?" (at this time, she is doing a painting craft with my kids)
"How they use certain techniques to make their point, and try to present their claims as facts." (silence from Mom, as she listened... I still have to learn the best way to relay these conversations to my mom, and try to guage when I am supposed to stop talking.)
"For example, I am learning how the bible study will go, if we follow her plan. She doesn't start out with any opening statement or claim, or even tell me the point she is trying to make. Instead, we open our bibles and start having bible races, to see who can find verses she wants to read. She likes to show me 10-15 verses, located all throughout the bible. They don't always even seem related... like 2 weeks agp, she showed me about 15 verses that contained the word 'truth.' I kept waiting for her to get to the point. Then she will stop, and ask me a question I can't answer. She doesn't seem to follow a logical process to reach conclusions."
My mom is still just listening, and I don't know when to stop, and keep talking... (I see where I need to improve here, LOL) "So I asked her, 'What is the truth? I know JW's hold that word as if it were their greatest treasure.' Miss K quickly responded with, 'The Bible is the truth,' to which I replied, 'OK, what does the Bible say?' She just looked at me, so I asked her what was the message from the Bible. She said something about rectifying the Kingdom and vindictating Jehovah. I started to write it down, but she stopped me and said, 'You won't find that written down anywhere! Don't quote me on that!'"
My mom sort of clicked her tongue in disapproval. I said, "I noticed that she didn't mention Jesus at all, so I told her, 'Jesus is the truth! The truth, the way and the life...' The name above all names! Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
My mom said, "Yeah... and...?" as if that was what she believed and what the JW's taught.
So I said, "Why do Jehovah's Witnesses teach that you have to go through an organization to get to Jesus, when he told us to come to him directly? Why do they go through men to get to Christ?"
She said, "That is a good question..."
Then I talked to her about the name, and how I was asking Miss K why they insist on using the personal name of God, even to the point of inserting into the scriptures where it did not appear. I told her how Miss K said, it was only when they were quoting the OT, but that they also admitted that there were several other times, where they had come to the conclusion that it should have been there. I told her I had some real concerns, and that it seemed like they were twisting the scriptures.
"Why do they insist on calling God by his personal name, when Jesus Christ never said it?"
My mom said, "Right, Jesus called him Father." (!!!)
I told her how Miss K showed me some scriptures, where Jesus said he had come to make known his father's name, sanctify his name. I said, "But nowhere is it recorded, when Jesus told us to CALL God by his personal name. If it had been such an important instruction, then why isn't it recorded anywhere in the gospels?"
Mom said, "That's a good point..."
I said, "Jesus demonstrated how to pray, in the Lord's Prayer... 'Our Father, who art in heaven...' If anywhere he was going to tell us how to call on God, don't you think he would have said the name in that example prayer? Do you think he would have told us how to pronounce it?"
"Jehovah's Witnesses are so fixated on vindicating Jehovah's name... but Jesus didn't even call him that. What makes them think that they should be calling him that? If you go beyond what Jesus taught, then you are actually following the instructions of men. Are they following Christ's example, or the instructions of men?" My mom didn't say anything, but I think she got the piont. She looked confused.
Then I said, "Christians follow Christ. I asked her if they were 'Jehovah-ans.' I probably shouldn't have said that, because I'm not trying to be a smart aleck, but after investigating the bible, and how they came to the conclusion that they should add Jehovah to the New Testament, it really didn't make sense."
"Miss K keeps asking me if she has come and taught me anything that WASN'T true from the Bible, yet she is asking me to believe and follow things that are not taught in the bible."
So, I gave her some things to ponder, and she is not running scared... She is actually considering coming back NEXT weekend already, and said that she might have Dad come with her. I'm not sure if this is something he asked her to arrange or what. She mentioned how he likes to do electrical projects, and sort of offered his handyman services to me. I told her we did have a couple of little things we needed help with, and it would be great to see Dad.
After the way my dad bear-hugged me a couple of weeks ago at my niece's recital, I think he is doing a love-bomb attempt. Even though my mom claims she "doesn't want to get involved," she has clearly passed along the message that I am doing a bible study again. I suspect that Dad wants to prove that JW's are helpful, thoughtful and loving.
It would be great to see my dad, and I do hope they will both come over next week! I will be glad to have a chance to talk with them both before the International Convention in Detroit. I might address one or two of the topics listed on the program, since they seem to have put their paranoia about Detroit city on the shelf for now.