I never thought I'd see the day, but my 89-year old grandpa is now attending meetings. A real life story I wanted to share with you all.
He's been married 62 years to my grandma, who's been a JW since the mid-1950s. My grandpa's from the old school, a staunch Roman Catholic his entire life. Probably could count on one hand how many times he's ever missed Sunday mass. Gave money to the church every single month for years. Even on his mother's deathbed, she commanded him to "be good and go to church", and he's kept this promise ever since. Up until my grandma became involved with the JWs in the 1950s, their family was raised Catholic and had attended Catholic schools. My mother used to tell me stories how my grandpa would dress up as Santa Claus and bring gifts on Christmas morning. He ran a TV & radio repair shop and smoked like a chimney. As my grandma continued studying and attending meetings, my grandpa would vehemently denounce their teachings and give my grandma hell. Often I was told he would steal Watchtowers, Awakes, books, and tear them up and throw them in the trash. Eventually their kids became JWs (my mother being one of them), which angered my grandpa even further. Despite their religious differences my grandpa continued to remain faithful to my grandma throughout the years, although discussing anything JW-related around him would always make him get up and leave the room.
My grandma is 82 now. She's still as strong as ever as a JW. Religion aside, she's the kind of grandma that I wish everyone could have -- thoughtful, sincere, respectful and the most caring person you could ever know. About two ago her doctor changed the blood pressure medication she was taking. As has been the custom for many years, my grandparents always enjoy a martini (or two) every evening before dinner. Unbeknowst to her at the time, the alcohol had a reaction with her medication which caused her to pass out in her chair. When my grandpa tried to revive her, she would not respond. Shaken by what was happening, he called 911. The paramedics arrived and were able to revive her, although her blood pressure was 80/40. She was taken to the hospital where she eventually recovered and is now fine. As you can imagine this episode was terribly traumatic for my grandpa, with the thought of his wife passing before him.
A few weeks ago I got to talk to my grandma when she was visiting for a few days. She told me that about a month ago, my grandpa received his usual donation request for the church in the mail. My grandma had noticed that the envelope was sitting on the kitchen counter for several days. When she asked him about it, he instructed her to throw it all in the trash, and to do the same with anything else from the church. It turns out all the scandals in the Catholic Church were deeply troubling him. The following Sunday, he asked my grandma if his dress shirt was pressed as he wanted to attend the meeting at the hall. My grandma asked why he wanted to go to the hall. He then hugged her and said that he wanted to take some time to search out the JWs to see what they teach, and that he loved her so much and wanted to be there to support her. My jaw just about hit the floor when she told me that. Well it turns out he's attended a number of Sunday meetings and some ministry school/service meetings. It is very different to think that he is going to the hall!
In many ways I can understand my grandpa's position of wanting to be there for my grandma after years of not supporting her religious decisions. Perhaps it as an act of love now that he is up in years, or a search for answers given the crises of the Catholic Church. Even though I no longer believe the JWs, I still love and respect my grandpa regardless of his decisions. He's a great man and full of wisdom. As Jesus has said, we should continue to love one another. Sometimes that's all that matters.
YellowLab
Edited by - YellowLab on 7 January 2003 23:43:43