My sister was a pioneer for decades. She loved the Jehovah's Witness religion with all her heart and nobody anywhere could have tried harder to live its teachings. That was then. But now, finally ...
She's washed her hands of the Jehovah's Witnesses once and for all. She's done with them. She's been attending the First Evangelical when in her own small town, and the Baptists when in the city. She bought a New International Version Bible after her new aquaintances showed her how flawed the NWT is by comparison, and asked me to send her a King James, which I have.
She has so many deep regrets now for the years devoted to the JWs, and to strict obedience to every rule. She especially regrets how badly her own children turned out as a result of raising them the way she was taught was right.
This is the stage I was fearful of her reaching, the regrets stage. She was trying so hard to live as God wanted her to live, and to receive blessings and happiness like she'd been promised. She gave it her all. And got nothing back but misery and a congregation of false friends who have now deserted her cold. There she is, a widow, no car, no public transportation available, and they won't give her the time of day.
She has one son who remained JW, and has still not had the courage to tell him she has left the religion. She's afraid of what he will say and do. With her gentle, fragile heart, she can't take further rejection.
She has a new man in her life, a Baptist. He's a good person and makes her happy. She's moving out of her town to be close to him in the city. She's like a kid again, bubbly, joyful, laughing, filled with hope for the future. Real hope. For the first time since I don't know when, she's looking forward to living her life. She truly is a new creature this time and it's a joy to behold.
I want to thank all on this board who provided the insight into the JW mind and lifestyle that helped me reach through to her, breaking down the wall one little chip at a time. The key, the biggest chip-breaker, was being able to show her through advance knowledge of what the next publication, next convention, or even next meeting would discuss, that JWs are NOT the ONLY ones doing good things. That was key.
I hope others can find success as they, too, strive to rescue their loved ones from the cold and unloving world of the JWs.
Good luck and God bless,
SusanHere, LDS now and forever