Mr. & Mrs. Flipper
Thank you for your story. It puts a "face" of sorts on the poster to hear these things. In reading your posts, I always got the feeling you were happy, upbeat, fair, and very close to each other. Finding the right mate after going through all you did is a real blessing.
Your experiences provide you with tools to help others, and I'm sure you have and will continue to. I'm glad you "serve" on this JWD board.
I had a conversation about a month and a half ago with the PO in our local congregation. They visit ever so often and leave the lit. They know I was raised in it and left on my own accord but was never da'd nor df'd. JWs helped ruin my brother who got df'd at 17. His whole safety net was jerked out from under him and his life took a tailspin after that. He has never been the same. I told that PO that when dealing with real lives of people, their decisions can totally destroy a person. When you are 17 and commit immorality, rather than kick them out to the curb, the whole cong and family members should surround that person with love and help and forgiveness, not disfellowship and shun them. Lives---real lives---are at stake. He looked down and dejected. I hope I hit a nerve.
BTW, when you say "peace out", I always smile.