Looking After Widows and Orphans--James 1:27

blondie

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-bb14extramar14,0,7446169.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

West Lantana widow struggles to live on meager Social Security

By Sam Tranum
Staff Writer

March 14, 2004

West Lantana · After spending decades cleaning houses, waiting tables and working in nursing homes, 63-year-old June Lawson doesn't have a retirement account to tap into.

All she has is the Social Security check she gets as a widow of one of the program's beneficiaries. She doesn't want to say how much it is, but she says it's not enough.

It's a situation many older people face: 3.3 million Florida residents get Social Security benefits. The average benefit for survivors like Lawson is $788 a month -- roughly poverty level for a person living alone.

"A lot of senior citizens cannot make it on Social Security alone," said Nedra Savoia, who runs a job-training program for people older than 55 through the American Association of Retired Persons Foundation.

Lawson solved the problem by mending clothes for a little extra cash in her one-story, gray house near Lawrence and Lantana roads. She used to do some ironing, too.

"But my arm wore out," she said.

So now she sticks to hemming and other small repairs.
"I had been a house cleaner, but that's awful hard," she said. "This I can do at home."

A Jehovah's Witness, Lawson started by doing some sewing for other members of her Kingdom Hall. Pretty soon, she hung a small sign over her mailbox that said: "Mending. Ironing. Alterations."
Often, people who don't speak English see the sign but -- unable to read it -- assume it's a for-sale sign and stop in to inquire about buying her house. The house belonged to her husband, who died in 1999, and it's not for sale, she said.

When she's not sewing for others, Lawson likes to make clothes for herself. She also spends a lot of time going door-to-door, spreading the word as a Jehovah's Witness.
Sometimes Lawson likes to just stay home and play solitaire and other games on her computer. Her calico cat, Princess, keeps her company.

"That's my baby," she says, looking fondly down as the cat rubs against her leg.

Sam Tranum can be reached at stranum@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6522.

Maverick

Sorry this is not part of their sacred service! Push the books and let God take care of her!

These things, taking care of widows and orphans, are written in the Bible, the mags and book placements are not, but why worry about that, the J-dud governing body tells us what God really meant! Maverick

Gopher

Among our greatest needs are love and companionship. This widow doesn't get much of that from her congregation friends. Maybe she's not in the "in crowd" there.

So her cat gives her what the JW's won't, as shown in the quote below.

Sometimes Lawson likes to just stay home and play solitaire and other games on her computer. Her calico cat, Princess, keeps her company.

wheres caleb?

She needs to go out in FS more. Have faith in God, that's what the CO's and DO's do, right? Oh yeah, the congregation is asked for a 'show of hands' to accept the financial needs of these faithful ones. Everyone else is on their own. God will provide.

God's name is not worthy of being mentioned among these liars.

Mary

The Society has very little, if any, interest in looking after widows and orphans, even though it's a command that the Christian congregation is supposed to do. It smacks too much of charity work, and we all know ~~the cheap bastards would rather die than spend one red cent on charity~~ they "frown" upon charity work.

Recently, I was watching Dr. Phil and there was a Mormon family on there who were the epitome of a dysfunctional family. Be that as it may, their church had been paying their rent for over two years!! Granted, the Mormons practice Tithing so maybe they've got more cha-ching, but that should make little difference to those in "The Troof". Perhaps instead of everyone rushing to hand dollars over to the Circus Overseer (that's not a typo) when he comes, perhaps they could spare a few dollars for this poor sister. Maybe she would like company one afternoon or (gasp!) maybe someone could invite her over for a frigging MEAL!!

But of course, you couldn't count that as time on your service report, so why bother?

nobody told me

I'm sure someone will pick her up for service and buy her a doughnut for break.

Elsewhere

June Lawson doesn't have a retirement account to tap into.

Yep... I recall JWs being scolded by elders for making investments for retirement. You must have faith in Jehover!!! He will provide!!! Anyway, the end is near, you will NEVER have to retire!

mouthy

Well they kicked me out two years after my hubby died.

After telling me we didnt need insurance as Armeggedon would soon be here-

I was destitute!!! lived in a small seniors cit: apartment , not much food,

& others JWS that lived in the building would walk by me.

It was the most horrible time of my life.I feel for the lady... Been there done that

Love_Truth

One of my favorite Scriptures for pointing out one of many errors the Witnesses make.

James 1:27 (NWT): "The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows..."

So, if that is the form of worship that God wants, why do the dubs not do more to help widows and orphans? They do next to nothing. They should have orphanages, and places and programs to support widows in need.

No wonder JWs rarely quote that Scripture.

acsot

So sad, so typical of the callousness routinely displayed in the borg. How many other older or infirm ones are going through the same struggles and loneliness, simply because they sincerely thought they were serving God, only to get shafted by the old boys in Brooklyn.

Looking After Widows and Orphans--James 1:27

West Lantana widow struggles to live on meager Social Security

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