I just received this letter.
Dear Dad,
I?m writing to let you know how I feel, and some decisions I have made. I have felt this way a very long time, I have just chosen to ignore it and cover it over. But I feel I have to tell you because some things are going to have to change. So here it goes.
First of all, none of this is coming from mom, all of it is coming from me. Exactly how I feel, and think.
Although you are my father, we have chosen different paths. You have chosen the world, and not to live by Bible principles or standards. You disassociated yourself, and you chose what you wanted to do. You know enough about the Witnesses to know that I should treat you like a disfellowshipped person. Accept in your case it?s worse. Because disassociating yourself means you are not repentant and that you do not feel bad for the things you do, or have done in the past. The court papers said I had to see you until I was 18. I am no longer 18 and I feel that associating with you is a hinderence(sp) to my spirituality.
It really made me mad when I came up for a visit for a week. And you were asking me all kinds of questions to try and disillusion me, and to make me have doubts in my head. Then you were showing me articles about it. And even though you were letting me go to the meetings and go out in field service, you still tried to make it hard, by things you said. It really put me out when you did that, because it showed lack of respect. And truthfully you don?t want answers to your questions you ask, because you are not interested in the truth, or what teachings we have. So you cannot fully understand, or want to understand it. It is like trying to reason with a drunk person. Because you didn?t want to hear it. You are content with your lifestyle, and the things you have chosen. You like doing what you want to do. Which is why you are no longer a witness.
I would feel a lot better with my self if I didn?t associate with you. Because I should treat you like a disfellowshipped person. And truthfully I don?t want to visit you, and be around the lifestyle you try to have me live. I know you will truly be happy with me until I am out of the truth. And that will not happen. Because I love Jehovah, and I know that it is the truth. In the congregation there are problems, but everywhere you go there are problems, everyone is imperfect. But as a whole, Jehovah?s people are organized and have true Christian unity. You can go anywhere in the world and be taught the same exact thing that is going on all the way on the other side of the world. Where as other churches teach what ever they want. You can go to a Baptist church and be taught one thing, then go to one 30 minutes away and be taught another.
I went to the meeting a few months ago, and they read a scripture out of the Bible. I was wondering how I was going to tell you all this, and if it is the right thing for me to do, and they read the scripture, and it made me realize that I had to do this, for myself. Jesus said these words, ?Do you imagine I came to give peace on earth? No, indeed, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on there will be five in one house divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father,?..? That is Luke 12:51-53, just incase you want to look at it. That scripture is very true. Because when only on family member serves Jehovah, and the other one doesn?t, then it causes problems. And to feel I am doing right, I need to sever ties. So basically until you start doing something about the truth, I don?t want to be around you, or talk to you. Because I don?t want to, nor do I need to. Everytime I would go visit you I would feel sick as it was nearing, and everytime I talk to you on the phone I feel terrible when I get off. I?m tired of feeling that way. And I?m tired of trying to make you happy. It wears me out.
I am also engaged to a Brother in Lufkin. I don?t want him to meet you, or talk to you because you are not good association. And I don?t think you should come to my wedding, because I do not want an apostate at my wedding. He also has an understanding about this, because he has 2 disfellowshipped brothers. So he knows how it feels. I knew you would say you wanted to meat him etc. when I told you I was interested in someone. So just didn?t tell you. I am sorry about this, but you made your decision. You chose one thing and I chose another. So this is the way it has to be. If by me saying this means sacrificing a car, and a trip to Scotland, oh well. I would rather be happy with myself and the decision I have made, and know Jehovah is happy about it, then to keep pretending. You brought this upon yourself, and for that I am sorry, because you cannot truly be happy with your life, unless you have Jehovah and the congregation backing you up. At least I never could be. So here is where we must part. If you wish to contact me, I would prefer you write me a letter, or an email, because I won?t be taking your phone calls.
Respectfully,
Signature
Anna
I suppose she can't say "I love you" as she did just last May on the phone. She hasn't been returning my calls for a month now.
Funny thing... Her last visit in Feb. I asked her to come for a long weekend (she's a pioneer), she suggested we change the date and she could stay for 7 - 10 days.
What do you do?
Bryan