So I call my grandfather who has been inactive for several decades and he's at vacation in Puerto Rico. The conversation is normal, we talk about how he's doing down there and how I am doing. Then he tells me that my cousin who I haven't seen in 5 years, is with him and asks if I would like to speak to him; I said yes. So we told each other that we missed each other and that he told me that he's happy that I don't have a stick up my butt anymore and remembers how I would get upset over every little worldly thing he would do and thought that I was going to grow up to be a real Boy Scout. I made it clear to him that to me he was family even though the rest of our family was shunning him. He told me he wish he could've made it to family events but couldn't attend due to him being disfellowshipped. I told him that if we happened to cross paths one day, that I would greet him and not ignore him. He told me that it meant a lot to hear that from me.
It was really good to hear from him even though honestly a year ago I wouldn't have thought about talking to him. And it bothers me that a year ago I probably would've ignored him like the rest of my family does. It was a clear reminder of how much the practice of disfellowshipping hurts. I can't comprehend how that is humanely possible. But as I said it was really good hearing from him.
~Jules