myth: parents who are jehovahs witnesses.
force their children to follow their faith.. fact:witness parents strive to inculcate love.
for god in their offspring, just as the bible.
FORCED and guilted into it ,NEVER did I feel there was any LOVE of God inculcated into Jehovah's Witness belief system !
Does anyone else think Growing up in the 60-70's was so much different than the soft ,lovey-dovey brand of JWism they have today . I thought I saw a big change in the late 80's ,a softer stance on things compared to what I had growing up .
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u.s. army policy letter regarding jehovah's witnesses and blood.. .
bangalore.
When I was born in 1961 my Dad was active Marine Corps ,and my Mom was JW . We lived on base ,and I was born in a Naval hospital . My Mom had to have a c-section , and told everyone she did not want a blood transfusion . Yet when she was coming out of surgery the Doctor told my Dad she needed one ,and they gave it to her against her wishes . She was pissed about that her whole life !
when i was little (before jwism) we celebrated christmas.
my parents got the "truth" then we no longer celebrated it.
we used to get together with family and friends and it was great!
Our house is pretty small ,and at first my husband was not thrilled with the whole holiday thing ,so our first tree was/is a Dollar General artifical 6 1/2 ft tree. I added 100 twinkling lights and 100 clear lights . For a cheap tree I think it looks pretty awesome !
I work in a fancy gift store that goes crazy at Christmas time ,so I have bought glass ornaments for several years ,and saved them until the time was right My favorites are Old World Ornaments ,beautiful blown glass .
Now that husband is on board for the holidays I am hoping for a better tree next year . Something at least a bit thicker and fuller . I like the thought of real tree smell ,but artificial ones seem more practical .
he said he wanted to know how i was doing and what was going on with me.
i knew that it was only a matter of time before he started asking about me not being to the hall in like 3 months and him trying to bring me back into the fold.
and in about less than a minute he started telling me about how everyone at the hall misses me and asks about me.
NC ....be aware putting up a Christmas tree (unless your husband is not a JW) will BE the final straw . They will come knocking at your door ! After four yrs that is what finally made the Elders come after us , I had a small lighted garland on our porch . I answered their questions as stated above "NONE of their business " then when they would not stop calling I sent a registered letter of cease and desist to them . Along with a notation that the Police had a copy . This finally made them leave us alone .( Also a policeman called the COB and explained what NO contact meant ) I don't know if any actions were taken against us because they are not allowed to contact us .
in case of a really serious medical emergency- it's something to seriously consider.
otherwise former aquaintances like jw elders in your former congregations or allegedly well meaning jw relatives who may have been listed by you as your emergency contacts might try running interference regarding the medical treatment you receive !
i finally changed my emergency medical contacts a few years ago legally to my non-witness wife, my non-witness mother in law, and my non-witness adult son.
I had a talk with my Doctor as soon as I began waking up to the real truth . In fact the blood issue WAS the thing that opened my eyes finally . I was still going to meetings I think ,but I told my Doctor to take the JW crap out of my records immediately ,and informed him from now on medical decisions would be made by MEDICAL personel not psuedo ministers . I told my husband of my decision right away too.
Just recently I had surgery, and a new Doctor . My husband was present when we discussed the possiblity of blood transfusion, and they both were clear what my wishes are now . But as Aquagirl stated ,get an updated medical power of attorney and legally state your wishes . When being admitted make sure they no longer have JW down as your religion ,I was asked if I had any religious preference for pastorial care while hospitalized .
he said he wanted to know how i was doing and what was going on with me.
i knew that it was only a matter of time before he started asking about me not being to the hall in like 3 months and him trying to bring me back into the fold.
and in about less than a minute he started telling me about how everyone at the hall misses me and asks about me.
Here are some things I found were good responces to inquiring " friends".......
We miss you : Wow ,thanks ....but really NO one has called ,so excuse me if I find it hard to believe .
What is going on with you ,why are you missing the meetings : I have found it better for my emotional /mental well-being that I take a break from the KH .
Is there something keeping you from the Hall ? Is it work /worldly friends /blah blah blah : Sorry, but I can not even imagine discussing MY personal life with you .
Are you celebrating holidays ?: Again ,my personal life is none of your business and I can not even imagine discussing it with you .
We love you : Smile and nod ....
You don't want to disappoint your dead loved one do you ? : I have never been a disappointment to my Mother/Father . They really trusted that I knew what was best for myself .
he said he wanted to know how i was doing and what was going on with me.
i knew that it was only a matter of time before he started asking about me not being to the hall in like 3 months and him trying to bring me back into the fold.
and in about less than a minute he started telling me about how everyone at the hall misses me and asks about me.
YES.....that is insensitive and manipulative !!! Exactly what they are taught to do I am afraid . I learned very early on after leaving ,the term "emotional Blackmail ", it is used widely and often by Jehovah's Witnesses .
in 2000-2001 we had 2 witness stay at our house because they were building a new kh.
the experience was strange to see the least but the people were nice.today the jw's are not as nice.. does anybody have similar experiences..
Yes we had people stay with us during our KH build . They were very nice and respectful .
My husband went on many QBs and stayed with others . He has one really funny story about that too. He stayed in a home where the families elderly Mother lived with them ,she was hard of hearing . The bathroom door did not lock, and when my husband was in taking a shower the older woman came in ,and used the toilet .......She was in there a while , and he had to hide out in the shower stall until she finished ! HAhahaha I doubt he even told them because it would have been embarrassing .
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15834523.
OUTLAW .....BAHHaahahhhwahwhhhhahhhahahaha
tonight i tried to contact my blood brother.
i am 32 he is 30.. he was baptised at 10 and df'd at 12, 22 and now he would have been again but he walked away.. i made no progress with our reunite.
he's hating on me for leaving the family.
You can only control your actions ,no one else's. It is commendable that you have extended your love to your brother ,but you can not force him to accept the invitation . All you can do is send reminders occasionally that you care . That is all . I hope you do not allow it to bring you down or feel responsible for his lack of positive response .
I have a brother that has very similar traits . I have not spoken to him now in over three yrs. It has come to the point I am relieved not to be involved in his drama any longer ...it can be exhausting .
