@ leftbelow - what a fantastic post, hands-down one of the best I've ever read on JWN. Don't let anyone hint at taking away these blessings from you; you know what's real and what isn't and when we've felt God, we know that it's for real.
Personally speaking, we had lost a baby son 6 years before we left the WTS. He died shortly after he was born due to a birth defect. My wife had carried from then onwards the desire for a little dark haired baby. Our oldest son always wanted a little brother. Two years later we welcomed our daughter, Grace, into the world. But we always had our little dark haired baby son in our hearts.
When we stepped out of the WTS in faith last summer, my wife immediately - and unexpectedly (believe me, this was the surprise to end surprises) - fell pregnant. In March of 2009 we welcomed our dark haired baby son, Fergus, into the family.
Throughout our journey, we had our hearts healed. We've lost family and friends, but every single one of them has been replaced by new friends, some of whom are like fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters to us (and those who know the church we go to can attest to the fine people who are now in our lives). God has blessed us.
I personally always carried a feeling and sense of low self worth. It affected every single one of my relationships. I've been healed of this and blessed with a new personality that doesn't major on doubt and low self worth. God has blessed my heart.
Financially we've received blessings. We've taken financial problems (I left my employment to run my own business this year, coupled with a calling to serve in the church in some capacity, so I work part-time) to God in prayer and every single time there has been miraculous intervention. The latest saw us praying over some hefty up-coming bill and asking God to bless us and intervene as meeting this bill was beyond our means. The next day a cheque was pressed into my hand as a 'gift' for some pro bono work I'd carried out. The cheque covered the bills. God blessed our trust in him.
More importantly, rather than following an aimless false prophet, we're now blessed by walking with Christ in our lives. Our children are free from a cult and have their whole lives ahead of them.
LeavingWT, thanks for starting this thread, it's been a real encouragement to read.
