Hello everyone,
I'm not sure if anyone remembers me since I do not post here much anymore. I sometimes pop in around Christmas time to see if anyone is interested in exchanging Christmas cards like we used to back when I first posted on this site. Speaking of which, the holiday season will soon be upon us.
If you recall, I was married to a Jehovah's Witness and I had a daughter I spoke of a lot. My little daughter is now 17 years and is in her last year of high school. Hard to believe so much time has passed.
My wife and I also did not work it out in the end but our reason for our separation was due to her having an affair. She was disfellowshipped for this and she woke up to the cult based on how they treated her in the aftermath. She considered the disfellowshipping process and shunning as emotionally abusive. She even stated as such to the elders when she attempted to get reinstated. The elders, of course, responded by insisting that she accept the disfellowshipping practice as "loving" and when she held her position, they made it practically impossible for her to get reinstated.
Where are we now? My wife moved out early 2021 and she and I continued to communicate. We even hung out like a couple and spent time together as a family for over a year since then. I thought we would eventually reconcile and get back together but unfortunately by August of 2022 she began dating other men. I implored her, even begged her, to reconsider and we try to work it out but no. I soon realized the futility of it and gave myself permission to move on.
We have not filed divorce yet as we still maintain a friendship and there is a part of me that still cares in spite of everything. That said, I know it needs to be done but am a bit afraid to do it.
We originally did joint custody of the kids but over time, my little daughter decided to live with me while her sister lives with her. Soon she'll be 18 and none of that will matter anyway.
I miss the old days of us posting here and talking about religion and the Jehovah's Witnesses. I miss the old days of experiencing the Kingdumb Hall with my family in spite of my fears. Looking back, it wasn't too bad and I am thankful that I was not a witness as I was able to keep the family somewhat grounded. That is, in spite of my own religious zealotry that I had back then. I have this board plus my own willingness to question everything to thank for shaking off that. As nice as it was to be true blue believing Christian, my zealotry was causing problems for both me and my family and my shaking it helped free me.
Where is my (ex)wife now? Definitely not Jehovah's Witness. She is far more skeptical, as am I. That said, we do go to church (not the same one) primarily for community and our own personal edification. As for me, my beliefs lie more in line with deism now. My daughters do not go to church and we never force them to, though I do encourage my oldest just to get out and around people. She, unfortunately, has been fighting with anxiety and has had a hard time being in social situations, this includes school and part time jobs. We are just patient with her and I am thankful that her mother and I still are on good terms for her sake.