Like Absalom, I am angry...I feel no guilt, nor regret, nor denial...those have morphed over the years to anger plain and simple....I have seen many die due to not taking blood...for the majority it was their choice. However, there were a few young ones where that decision was made by their parents after considerable "encouragement" from the elders. I recall the Awake! magazine from May 22 1994, entitled, "Youths who put God first" This magazine featured the death of 3 young witnesses who needed transfusions. They "chose" to abstain. All three died. Now, no one knows if a transfusion would have helped or not...who could tell? The reality though is that these were kids, plain and simple, kids who should not have been allowed to make a life and death decision like that due to the fact that they were "encouraged" by people whose lives were not on the line. Their loss angers me. They lost their lives because someone told them "GOD" expected them to make that decision or else lose out on eternal life. Angry? I am downright enraged!!
At this moment in my life, I do not believe in the hereafter, or the next life, or heaven, or eternal life in paradise. If it exists, then I hope that God, if there is one, recognizes that I have been as sincere in life as I could. I have tried to help more than harm. I have loved deeply those who are my own. That should count for something. I am sure he understands my anger.
As for the brother who commented on "a few days," well, he thought he was being a comfort...turns out he may well have fulfilled the proverb on "expectation postponed makes the heart sick." Can't blame him for touting the party line....