12 By supporting the elders’ decision to disfellowship your loved one, you may actually help him to return to Jehovah. “Severing family association with our adult son was extremely difficult,” admits Elizabeth, quoted earlier. “But after he returned to Jehovah, he admitted that he deserved to be disfellowshipped. In time, he expressed appreciation for the lessons he learned. I came to value Jehovah’s discipline,” she says. Her husband, Mark, adds: “Much later, our son told me that he wanted to come back in part because we did exactly what we had to do. I’m so glad Jehovah helped us to be obedient.”
My cousin was disfellowshipped over 24 years ago when he was 20 years old. He is not welcome to any family functions. He has two young children ( a 3 year old and a one year old) who have not seen their grandfather ( an elder ). His father refuses to see his grandkids and his son. His father told that him that he cannot have any association with him '' until you come back to Jehovah.''
My cousin told me that he will never go back. He said, "Why would I go back after being treated like this?''
When my cousin's one year old was born, my cousin's father sent him a baby gift with a congratulations card. It was only addressed to his wife and grandkids. He didn't even have the decency to put his son's name on the card.