FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
16 The bond between parent and child
is so strong that Jehovah used that relationship
to illustrate his own love for his
people. (Isa. 49:15) It is normal, therefore,
to be deeply grieved when a beloved
family member leaves Jehovah. “I
was devastated,” says one sister whose
daughter was disfellowshipped. “I wondered,
‘Why did she leave Jehovah?’ I
felt guilty, and I blamed myself.”
17 Jehovah understands your pain. He
himself “felt hurt at his heart” when
the first member of his human family,
and later most people living before
the Flood, rebelled. (Gen. 6:5, 6)
It may be difficult for those who have
never experienced such a loss to appreciate
how devastating it can be. Nevertheless,
it would be unwise to let the
improper course of a disfellowshipped
family member distance you from Jehovah.
How, then, can you cope with the
profound grief that arises when a family
member leaves Jehovah?
18 Do not blame yourself for what
happened. Jehovah has put a choice before
humans, and each dedicated and
For suggestions, see pages 17-19 of the November
2011 issue of Awake!
16, 17. What grievous situation has afflicted
many parents, and how do we know that Jehovah
understands their pain?
18. Why should parents not blame themselves
if a child leaves Jehovah?
baptized familymembermust “carry his
own load” of responsibility. (Gal. 6:5)
Ultimately, Jehovah holds the sinner
—not you—responsible for his or her
choice. (Ezek. 18:20) Also, do not blame
others. Respect Jehovah’s arrangement
for discipline. Take your stand against
the Devil—not against shepherds who
act to protect the congregation.—1 Pet. 5:
8, 9.
19 On the other hand, if you choose
the path of resentment toward Jehovah,
you will distance yourself from him.
Really, what your beloved family member
needs to see is your resolute stance
to put Jehovah above everything else
—including the family bond. So to cope
with the situation, be sure to maintain
your own spirituality. Do not iso-
19, 20. (a) What can parents of disfellowshipped
children do to cope with their grief?
(b) What hope do such parents rightly entertain?
late yourself fromyour faithful Christian
brothers and sisters. (Prov. 18:1) Pour
out your feelings to Jehovah in prayer.
(Ps. 62:7, 8) Do not look for excuses to
associate with a disfellowshipped family
member, for example, through e-mail.
(1 Cor. 5:11) Stay absorbed in spiritual
activities. (1 Cor. 15:58) The sister quoted
above says, “I know that I must stay
busy in Jehovah’s service and keep myself
in a spiritually strong condition so
that when my daughter does come back
to Jehovah, I will be in a position to help
her.”
20 The Bible says that love “hopes all
things.” (1 Cor. 13:4, 7) It is not wrong
for you to entertain the hope that your
loved one will return. Each year, many
wrongdoers repent and come back to Jehovah’s
organization. Jehovah does not
begrudge their repentance. On the contrary,
he is “ready to forgive.”—Ps. 86:5.
