I am bringing this over from the "Still no pants suits, for sisters" thread.
It's funny how I don't think much about healing from the JW's anymore. I was not raised a JW. I was only active for around 10 years. I have been not a JW much longer than I was a JW. But unexpectedly, I still find myself getting moments of healing. Here is an example of what I am talking about in my comment from that thread. This thread is about your, our, steps in healing. Share what you want. My experience follows:
On Sundays, where I work, you can spot every JW family that comes in. They are all dressed in second hand store, clearance rack and home made dress clothes. The poor little boys are in the most awful rag taggle ties and poorly fitted suit coats. They all walk with the air of superiority. You can almost see the "forcefield" around them as they try not to rub shoulders too closely with the rest of us, Satan's children. I cringe.
During the week there is this couple who come in. I have talked to them before, asking them if they are JW's. I usually feel sick to my stomach when I see them, but I was able to talk them into buying a bottle of Focus Factore recently, telling them it would help them concentrate at the meetings and conventions. That is when I softened towards them because they dropped their air of superiority and just for a few moments related to me as fellow human beings. It was a sort of moment of epiphany for me. It was a step in healing. I saw the humanity in this couple and really all of the JW's. And I am grateful to this couple for helping to evaporate a bit more of the bitter taste I have been left with, since I drifted away in 91.
Because I had this experience with this couple, when a priest friend of mine asked for me help lately, I was able to give a kinder response. I think I'll make a thread about it. He and his family are Episcopalians. His daughter is the music and chorus teacher at the local middle school. She called him and said, "Oh no, one of my students is a JW. I am worried this girl will not be allowed to sing in the Christmas concerts. What should I do for her, so she can participate more fully?" So he called me and said, "I have a JW related question." He told me the situation. I said, "Well, it depends on the parents and their level of devotion as to what they will allow their child to do. I suggest she arrange to speak with the parents to tell them of her concern. She can ask them what they will allow. Your daughter could consider calling the concerts Winter Concerts and choosing holiday songs that are generic like Jingle bells or sing Greensleeves instead of What Child is This? for the Christmas songs. The parents will probably appreciate Emily's concern, respect and caring for their daughter."