Got a call from my older sister...

by Jim_TX 11 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  Jim_TX

  Last Saturday, I was at home - minding my own business, and the phone rings.

  Of course, I have caller-ID (Great Invention!), and can see that it is from my mom's house - where the remaining siblings live... all three of them.

  I answer the phone, "Hello?"

  "Hello, Jim - this is Pri*****", says the other voice - of my older sister.

  "Yes... How are you?"

  "Fine. I would like to invite you to come to the talk tomorrow. J-- will be giving his first talk from the platform."

  J-- is my youngest brother. Born in 1960, he is about... well... must be going on 44 right about now. Never married... been a JW for most of his life - if not all of it.

  "Well, thanks for the invitation. I won't be there, but tell J-- that I am proud of him and am glad that he is doing something that he likes."

  "Oh. Okay. I will.", she said.

  "By the way. Have you been by to visit Aunt Ruth?" I ask... knowing full well that none of them has been to see little 92-year old Aunt Ruth.

  "Ummm... no...", she starts stammering.

  "Well, do you know where she lives?" I ask - pushing this line of conversation.

  More stammering... so I let her off the hook a little...

  "Do you have her phone number? Perhaps a phone call would be nice, too.", I say.

  "Ummm...", more stammering, "Yeah... I think I have it... 830-555-1234", she says.

  "Yeah. That's it. You know, she would really like to hear from you guys.", I continue.

  "Oh. Yeah. I'll try to call her.", she says... now trying to find a way to end this embarrassing call.

  "Well, take care." I say.

  "Oh... yeah." , she says.

  *click*

  Ya know... my brother has been in that organization for all his life. It's amazing that he is JUST now getting the 'priveledge' of giving those Sunday talks.

  Of course, I realize that they promote those who are married and have kids first... but there are at least 2 examples in their own bible that show them encouraging fellas and gals to remain 'single' - and yet they don't support those by giving THEM more 'responsibilities'. Sorta sending out conflicting messages, if you ask me.

  Anyway... I am getting good at making her squirm. I don't take her guff anymore. *wide grin*

  Regards,

  Jim TX
• 

  Princess

  Nice turn around Jim!

  Sorry you had to miss the talk.

  Rachel
• 

  simplesally

  And why don't they call Aunt Ruth?
• 

  trumangirl

  Yeh, they could say "kingdom" to her while calling and get to count time.
• 

  Jim_TX

  Good question Sally,

  At my mom's funeral earlier this year, I distinctly heard my sister tell Aunt Ruth...

  "Well, now that we aren't tied down anymore, we will come visit you." (Paraphrased)

  I knew it was a lie. To be honest... I don't know why they won't go visit... or even call her.

  Aunt Ruth is a dear sweet old lady who is 92 years old. She is my dad's sister. She is Mormon... but that shouldn't prevent one from visiting a relative... should it?

  I figure that they don't go visit because they are just too wrapped up in their own pitiful little lives to take the time to do so.

  We all do that to a certain extent, I suppose.

  Oh. But the next time I saw Aunt Ruth... I told HER about my conversation with my sister, and asked her if she had gotten any phone call from her. "No... I haven't." was her reply. I didn't think my sister would call.

  My sister is only good at making excuses. Next funeral... my aunt Ruth's, perhaps... "Well cousin... I'm so sorry that we didn't get to visit aunt Ruth... but now we can come visit you." *lie detector on full tilt*

  Regards,

  Jim TX
• 

  blondie

  Jim_TX, my experience with JWs is that they can barely pull their rear ends out of their chairs to call or visit an older JW relative let alone a Mormon. I'm surprised they don't call Aunt Ruth because in that situation they could "count their time." Imagine, spending time trying to find strangers at home but not a moment for a non-JW relative.

  When I was an active JW, my mission was to befriend older JWs. I got more than I gave. When I stopped attending, I had one little lady left and I made sure that a reliable sister looked after her.

  So many JWs are only words and appearance. That is why one of my oft used phrases when talking to the elders about the neglect of older people at the KH was "actions speak louder than words."

  If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, yet a certain one of YOU says to them: "Go in peace, keep warm and well fed," but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it? JAMES 2:15-16

  But whoever has this world?s means for supporting life and beholds his brother having need and yet shuts the door of his tender compassions upon him, in what way does the love of God remain in him? 1 JOHN 3:17

  Blondie (keep putting their feet to the fire)
• 

  Jim_TX

  Blondie,

  "Go in peace, keep warm and well fed," but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it?"

  Good points. (Yeah, I know... it's from the bible...)

  My Aunts' daughter and husband - who live near her - and usually take care of her daily - went on a 2 week vacation. Well, while they are gone, I was talking to my aunt on the phone, and she mentioned that she was out of blood-pressure medication.

  It's a 60-mile trip to her house... and takes about an hour to get there... I told her that if she couldn't get anyone else to take her to the pharmacy... another 30 miles away - that I would take her.

  Well, I called her on Saturday morning - and she had not gotten anyone who could - so I drove up there - picked her up - drove her to the pharmacy - and then back home. A total of 170 miles that trip.

  I ain't looking for any awards or 'kudos'... I never really thought about it. It just had to be done. She needed her medication.

  (Plus... I knew that when my cousin got home... she would thrash me if I didn't take care of my aunt. *grin*)

  Anyway... I may have been one who was negligent in the past... I am trying to rectify that now... if I can. She's the only relative living (other than my cousin) that claims me - or even acknowledges that I exist.

  Regards,

  Jim TX
• 

  simplesally

  We'll claim you too, Jim.............they aren't the only ones.
• 

  bebu

  Little off the topic, Jim... but if you have relatives that are relying on being taken to the pharmacy for renewing prescriptions, perhaps you could help them establish their renewals by mail? There are some stores/companies/warehouses that offer this kind of service, and it is a boon to folks who are dependant upon meds...

  bebu
• 

  Jim_TX

  Hey Bebu,

  Thanks for the suggestion. I don't know her situation - and wasn't interested in prying to find out. All I knew at that time was that she needed to get her medication.

  I believe her doctor had also upped her dosage - or something... not sure about that either... other than she had run out a day or three earlier than normal.

  She gets her medication through Wal-Mart... not sure if they 'deliver'.

  Regards,

  Jim TX