My family gave a great witness at my little sister's wedding...NOT!

by laylaluv 31 Replies latest jw friends

  • laylaluv
    laylaluv

    I have been on this site many times and I didn't decide to post anything until this past weekend. (July 18,19,&20) I wanted to share with all of you what happened this weekend.

    I was my little sister's wedding. The one who ran away from home at age 16 and the judge gave me custody. She is now 22. She was never baptized. Wasn't she smart? Anyway, my entire JW family showed up for the wedding. My parents, my sisters, brothers and their spouses. All JW's. I new that this was going to be a very interesting weekend. They all showed up at my sister's house on Friday. You should have seen their faces when they saw me,"the plague", the disfellowshipped one.

    I rode to the reception hall with my mother to help deocorate and cook. (She is the only one that will talk to me) My mother said everyone in the family was nervous because of a DF'd person being around. I told her I had every right to be there as did everyone else and that was their problem if they felt uncomfortable. Of course I was ignored by them, even my father. I didn't mind. I stood tall against all of them. I hung in there and stayed until the end. The funny thing was, I cooked a dish for everyone while we were decorating and preparing for the wedding. (My little sister and her fiance were not there that night) No one would eat it except my mother and my children. I told my mother that she better be careful because there must be demons in the dish because not one was eating it except her. lol We both had a good laugh.

    By the end of the night, I was tired yet proud of myself that I did what I wanted to do and did not let them waver me.

    The next day at the wedding and reception, I did the same thing. I acted normal. They were the ones uncomfortable. Boy, what a witness they put on the wedding and reception. NOT, lol My new brother-n-law's family noticed the shunning. So did most all of the rest of the non-JW's. I still stayed and helped out with all the cleaning and things.

    I had a conversation with my mother last evening. She brought up the subject about the shunning. She said, "your brothers and sisters said they all loved you and they were just doing what Jehovah wants them to do". I told her that it only made me resolve again in my heart never to come back to a religion like that. I told her that God didn't want anyone to be shunned. My siblings were only doing what the organization wants them to do. I told her that God was love and I didn't need three elders telling me I was forgiven for my sins. I also told her that if I needed three elders to tell me I was forgiven, then Jesus should have never sacrificed his life for our sins.

    I am proud that through all the years of programming that I am set free from oppressive thinking and mind bondage. I am happy with my decisions in life and I am happy that I know that I don't have to be perfect to please a false, man-made organization.

    I am also very pleased with myself that I am raising my three children to be free minded and to have their own personalities and opions. I am raising them to be NORMAL human beings. (see my biography)

  • Mary
    Mary

    Wow! Amazing story! I give you great credit for keeping your head held high and not let your family get to you. Way to go.

    If the subject comes up again, you bring out the point that while the scriptures say to cast someone out and that they should be treated "as a person of the nation, or a tax-collector", that Jesus Himself ate with tax collectors who were being shunned by the Pharisees.................watch their faces fall at that one.

    Thank god you got out when you did, and that your children have no part in this screwed up religion.

  • lisaBObeesa
    lisaBObeesa

    Great Post!

    I told her that it only made me resolve again in my heart never to come back to a religion like that. I told her that God didn't want anyone to be shunned. My siblings were only doing what the organization wants them to do. I told her that God was love and I didn't need three elders telling me I was forgiven for my sins. I also told her that if I needed three elders to tell me I was forgiven, then Jesus should have never sacrificed his life for our sins.

    Great job! Sounds like you really kept your cool! I wish I could stay calm like that and tell them what I think.

    I am sorry you had to go through all that shunning, though.

    Welcome!

    -LisaBObeesa

  • unbeliever
    unbeliever

    My brother got married last year and my mom gave a wonderful witness by refusing to sit at the same table with my sister at the rehearsal. The brides family and friends were speechless. When the dinner was over they were asking all kinds of questions about her religion. I was more than happy to tell them about it.

    You did good by holding your head high and not going along with their shunning!!

  • badolputtytat
    badolputtytat

    Welcome

    Good Job, Glad to know they haven't beaten you. Keep your strength. Wish you the best.

  • outnfree
    outnfree

    Good for you, laylaluv!

    You and your mom demonstrated LOVE, the others in your family did not. I am glad you didn't let their religious bigotry deprive your little sister of your presence at her wedding.

    Welcome to the Board!

    outnfree

  • Swan
    Swan

    Great story!

    Welcome Laylaluv!

  • Gozz
    Gozz

    More power to you laylaluv.

    And, welcome!

  • Angharad
    Angharad

    Welcome to the board LaylaLuv

    Good for you for standing up for yourself and not letting them get to you.

  • LeslieV
    LeslieV

    Welcome Laylay,

    You showed great courage standing up for yourself, plus you set a great example for your children!!!!!!! They indeed will be "normal" not programmed adults.

    Leslie

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