by Grammy 17 Replies latest jw friends
I had a very elderly JW relative by marriage who couldn't d to d .
So an Elder suggested he scan the local papers obituary columns and write JW letters to the bereaved familys.
Many of those who died were old aquaintances or friends etc.
He was house bound , ill and lonely.
The letter writing process made him depressed . I wonder why ?
Grammy, I'm so sorry for your loss!
I've been that brainwashed myself.
When I was about 16-17 years old, the father of a girl in my class died suddenly.
I went to the funeral, and with me I of course brought the "dead-brochure" (the one with the beach/sunset on the front).
First of all, I was not at all known to the church traditions on funerals, so I did not know it was a tradition for everyone to handshake the closest family of the deceased, and that the second closest would be the first in line, and that the rest of us would join in little by little.
So when the first ones where giving their condolances, I saw my opportunity so sneak in behind my classmate and hand her a small plastic bag containing the brochure, and then sneak back.
I was of course in my best intentions, as I have grown up to think that this brochure really would be of comfort and help. But all the years afterwards I've felt sick about how disrespectful I behaved.
A few weeks ago I came across this girl again, and I finally got to say how sorry I was for what I did.
She said she just tossed the brochure, and did not really think about it because they new I was beeing brainwashed, and that I should not think about it.
I was soooo reliefed!
So I can relate both to you, and to the one who send you this "comforting" tract.
kifoy
I'm sorry to hear of your misfortune. I send you a hug.
Thank you to all of you for your comforting words, they are greatly appreciated. I was a brainwashed robot JW for 26 years myself so I know the person probably had good intentions and no doubt thought she was doing me a great service, unfortunately I didn't think of it that way and I'm sure others on the receiving end of such letters and phone calls from them feel the same way I did. I considered it an unwelcome intrusion on my grief and pain and I would have felt the same way even had I never heard of Jehovah's witnesses or if it had come from another religion. Any current active JW's here should tell the higher ups that this is a practice they should abandon! It's a ghoulish and disgusting thing to do and is not at all likely to make someone want to join their cult!! Sandi
((((( Grammy ))))) So sorry for your loss!
"Vultures"Some of us, We're hardly ever here
The rest of us, we're born to disappear
How do I stop myself from
Being just a number
How will I hold my head
To keep from going under
Down to the wire
I wanted water
But I'll walk through the fire
If this is what it takes
To take me even higher
Then I'll come through
Like I do
When the world keeps
Testing me, testing me,testing me
How did they find me here
What do they want from me
All of these vultures hiding
Right outside my door
I hear them whisperin
They're tryin to ride it out
Cause they've never gone this long
Without a kill before
Down to the wire
I wanted water but
I'll walk through the fire
If this is what it takes
To take me even higher
Then I'll come through
Like I do
When the world keeps
Testing me, testing me, testing me
Wheels up
I got to leave this evening
Can't seem to shake these vultures
Off of my trail
Power is made, by power being taken
So I keep on running
To protect my situation
Down to the wire
I wanted water but
I'll walk through the fire
If this is what it takes
To take me even higher
Then I'll come through
Like I do
When the world keeps
Testing me, testing me
Oooooooooooo
Oooooooooooo
Oooooooooooo
Oooooooooooo
Whatcha gonna do about it
Whatcha gonna do about it
Grammy,
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss!!!
nj
I'm so sorry for your loss.
We are all here for you.
I lost my brother-in-law in a tragic accident last month.
I was quite frustrated when a sister brought over about 50 of those brochures as if I or my father couldn't have gotten them. But as was said, i'm sure she had good intentions.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
