I have two sisters, Angela, who is 17 months younger than me, and who has been baptised since she was 16, and Jean, who is 55, and has never been a Jehovahs Witness. I have always got on very well with both of them, but now I am no longer a JW, I really wondered how Angela would react.
It's not that she has ever been an over - zealous JW. Both her and her husband have for years been irregular attenders, and none of their 3 children are JWs. Her oldest daughter did get baptised, but is disfellowshipped, and her younger daughter and son never became JWs - very sensible! I took the plunge, so to speak, at the weekend, and phoned Angela. She is of course, aware that I have disassociated, and I wouldn't have been surprised if she hadn't wanted much to do with me. However, she was fine! And her husband John was fine! They invited me to dinner yesterday, and both told me they wish they'd done what I did years ago, but were a little surprised that I'd done it!
So maybe soon my sister will join me. Like me, they would lose many friends, and I didn't advise them either way, but did suggest they would get away with fading a lot more easily than I did, being rather on the periphery of the congregation, and not in the same one as me anyway, so perhaps that's what they will do, it's up to them. I am just so happy to be able to have a relationship with my sister, despite my disassociation. I told her about this site, and once I have a pc, she has promised to pop round to take a look, or even get the internet fitted at home. Who knows, maybe one day my sister's story will be on here!
My sister Jean is delighted that, in her words, I have finally become a normal person. I know what she means - I have always been in contact with her, but usually used to take the opportunity to witness to her when we got together. Well, she won't have that to think about again! She suggested the 3 of us get together for lunch one day soon, and Angela would be happy to do that as well. I can't remember the last time, apart from weddings and funerals, that the 3 of us were together, so it's something to look forward to. I will certainly let you all know how it goes, but for now, I am so happy to have both my sisters still in my life.
all my love
Marion xxx