Posts by Granny Linda

For those of us crafter's/woodworkers, Christmas begins in July in order to finish in plenty of time for , but I can appreciate how it can become tiresome so early on.

Nonetheless, Christmas is my favorite holiday and this year the oldest girl (9) gets a lap top desk for her art work. The only boy (6)gets a special grandpa wagon, and the youngest (girl 3) is getting a baby-doll cradle with homemade quilts and stuff.

I'm soooooo excited, but hey...I gotta finish storing away Halloween decorations, have turkey next week, and then pull out the tree.

Granny...who has already started playing the Xmas cd's. Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Willy Nelson.

Ooops...did I say Willy................

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26

Will the shunning began?

by Mystery in

jw
friends

20 years ago

i fade over 20 years ago.

moved 800 miles from my jw family.

i see them about once a year.

20 years ago

Granny Linda 20 years ago

{hugs to ya}, Mystery.

I really don't have much to add when it comes to JW's and their unpredictable behavior...even after a 16 fade. I do however believe they are not exempt from any of life circumstances. Sometimes our JW family likes to think themselves above it all, but it just isn't so. Yet we are the one's caught in mental turmoil over what "they might be thinking" about our life situations.

Let me tell you, Mystery - I wish I'd had a parent that would have bothered to seek help for my long ago mental illness. All that happened to me was being tossed in front of the elders, and my behaviour just worsened. So on that one to you.

My only child, a son, became daddy at age 19. I was not a happy camper hearing that news because...well, they are just so young and immature. I was very happy though knowing my JW family would not be around to do their usual bullshit guilt, shame and fear act with my son and his girlfriend.

Ten years down the road...my JW family has never seen any of my now 3 grandchildren. My son and his wife have matured and are well on their way for being that loving family many of wished for, but were denied because of that sickening religion.

I sincerely wish for you that your circumstances stay intact...if that's YOUR desire. You call the shots because when push comes to shove would you want your grandchild subjected to the endless babble of that religious neurosis? {not being callous}

I've been out for over 30 years and should I ever have opportunity to see my family as I have somewhat in the past....it just never ends with those people about Jehovah blahblahblah, and I really ain't gonna listen to it today. I'm much too busy with those wonderful grandchildren of mine. Especially now with Christmas just around the corner.

Keep us posted as to the blessed event...and remember that those two young adults will need support, comfort and reassurance during a most stressful time in their life.

From one Granny to another...

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13

Hello and thankyou

by bagpuss in

jw
friends

20 years ago

hi, i,m new to this board,although i've been lurking around for some time now and just wanted to say a big thankyou to lots of you,who without realizing it have helped me alot as i get used to life as an ex jw.

its really good to know that others have had similar thoughts and feelings since leaving and that i'm not the only one who's had doubts or questioned the lack of love in an organization that feels it holds the monopoly on the stuff!

it's great to know i'm normal!!!

20 years ago

Granny Linda 20 years ago

Confused, you beat me to the punch line about "normal."

WElcome, newcomer aka; former lurker.

granny

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3

How can i explain myself better?

by betty boop in

jw
friends

20 years ago

so me and my best and oldest friend from growing up still keep in touch even tho she is a jw and is married to one and most of her family members are (as are mine).

for the most part she respects me and my decision to have left the borg.

this week however, we made plans to meet and we've been sending emails back and forth to make plans and generally just let each other know how we are doing.

20 years ago

Granny Linda 20 years ago

Good response..."listen and learn."

My oldest and dearest friend while not being JW is nonetheless wrapped up so tightly in the Jesus thing that it does at times get old listening to her. When we last saw each other I finally told her that I no longer attempt any debates about religion.

Not unlike the JW's, some just have to "preach" their belief for whatever reason, whereas we might all get along much better without it.

Religion, my opinion, has done more over the centuries too create discord amongst humanity than it could ever unite.

LIfe is so full of twists and turns...and wonderment and amazement.

GL

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33

Whats Your View on most JW's

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

20 years ago

its safe to assume that many jw's come on here and just read posts.

in fact i did it for several months before posting anything.

i have seen many, many helpful posts giving encouragement, etc.

13 years ago

Granny Linda 20 years ago

Good topic.

I'm with those that really don't care what JW's think about our postings. I'm a better person for not belonging to any religion, and especially I'll fight to the death protecting my precious grandchildren from their hatefilled and hypocritical ways. Life is touch enough sorting through without having to sort through a lifetime of deceit and shunning.

There are times when I sound hateful myself...but only I can correct my thinking. There are times when I cry reading about what others have experienced at the hands of JW's. There are also times when I relapse for just a moment into thinking that perhaps my family really does love me. BUT...their very actions betray them.

Thanks goodness sites such as we have here are available for venting, healing and moving on with a good life.

GL

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21

JW's and government

by Granny Linda in

jw
friends

21 years ago

my jw sister works for the postal service, wearing the uniform and driving one of their mail trucks.

not only do i think this is hypocritical given the jw stance on government, it pisses me off each time i go to the post office and read the stupid sign about postal employees and federal crimes blah blah blah - like, what makes them so much more important than any other working person.. anyhow this has been bugging me for some time and i'd really like to confront her one day about wearing a symbol of the government, but i doubt i'll ever have the chance.

gawd, i detest those phoney people.. gl.

20 years ago

Granny Linda 21 years ago

My JW sister works for the postal service, wearing the uniform and driving one of their mail trucks. Not only do I think this is hypocritical given the JW stance on government, it pisses me off each time I go to the post office and read the stupid sign about postal employees and federal crimes blah blah blah - like, what makes them so much more important than any other working person.

Anyhow this has been bugging me for some time and I'd really like to confront her one day about wearing a symbol of the government, but I doubt I'll ever have the chance.

Gawd, I detest those phoney people.

GL

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13

What's your opinion?

by MelbaToast in

jw
friends

21 years ago

taken from the journal families and society 84 no.

4. cults and families.

my take: although jw's are not fully accepted as a cult in psychology or sociology (jws are listed as an "established sect"), this article has many points that have interested me.

21 years ago

Granny Linda 21 years ago

Yes, thank you, Terry for your post.

That's one reason my tolerance level for non-action individuals is not so good. Sometimes I want to shake people in the hopes that they will awaken to their inner strength and find all those wonderful qualities we really do have. And then I remember from whence I came...people will only find their inner strength when they make a decision to change.

GL

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21

EVERYONE LOOK! I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

by MelbaToast in

jw
friends

21 years ago

ok now that i've got your attention :) .

i am currently writing a psych paper, and i decided my topic is going to be jw's and the higher percentage of mental illness in the organization( in not so many words) i have been doing hella research in medical journals, and i would like to pose a request to anyone out there that has information on this subject to pm me or attach it to your response.

i would really appreciate it, and btw, if would be even better if this was from a peer-reviewed journal, because i have already searched all the sites and got the research from freeminds, watchtowerobserver, and sites such as this.

21 years ago

Granny Linda 21 years ago

On a side note: an old psych friend that worked with family abuse once told me...

"The greater percentage of child abuse comes from within the Christian community." Go figure, eh.

I understand your connection with JW's and mental illness, but it's hardly limited to just that sect.

A friend, former Amish, told some rather interesting stories of her own. Same, same.

Religious abuse has been long ignored. When I first began speaking of such things from whatever religion we came from, people just looked at me sorta funny. Well, maybe there was other reasons for that, but you get my drift.

Nothing unique, but my family is good material for mental illness and Jehovah's Witnesses. I stay far-far away from them today. Abuse is mental illness...being abused is creating mental illness.

GL

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