Okay, my mom is elderly (80 yrs. old) and not able to get to all the meetings like she used to (which is definitely a plus for me! BTW shes living with me now, since last spring, cause shes not able to keep up with things anymore).
Anyway, she was the faithful sister who never missed a meeting type, plowing through sleet and snow in service and to the meetings. Old age has perhaps given her a different perspective on life in the truth. So Im wondering what, if anything, I should bring up about the WTS or doctrines or whatever. She has angina and I dont want to be responsible for her taking her last breath on this planet by saying too much too soon. However, she has let slip a couple of things about some elders in a previous congregation which indicated that she was becoming annoyed and perhaps bitter at the way things are run in the "truth". Stuff like if theyre going to be the princes in the new system I dont want to be there. Amen to that I think to myself.
Anyhow, a couple of nights ago were watching the news a documentary about Canadas health care system and a report thats to be released which will recommend changes to ensure we maintain our universal health care. They show an elderly woman who cant get home care. I mention poor Sister Generous.
As background info, this Sister Generous is my mothers very good friend, who owned property, had investments and was always extremely hospitable and basically gave away all her money to the Watchtower Society, under the belief that he or she who sows generously will reap generously. So now that she needs almost full-time care she ends up sharing a tiny room with another elderly woman in a long-term care facility, with only an old television to keep her company. Hardly any visitors except for two sisters who have taken it upon themselves to help her when they can (BTW, these two sisters are themselves ill diabetic, alcoholic husbands, other health problems. Perhaps thats why they sympathize with the elderly, I dont think it has anything to do with the Watchtower teachings about taking care of others oh yeah, I forgot, there are no Watchtower teachings about taking care of others.)
Okay, back to my mom. I say: its really a shame to see how Sister Generous has ended up, when she had so much money. She probably could have kept her independence, lived in a small apartment and paid for extra nursing help if she had kept her money for her old age.
My mother responds: thats for sure. I feel so bad for her.
I say: and when I think about how much the Society is worth (I had shown her the statement about the Societys being worth around $954 million). Theyre worth about $1 billion, have all that property and its all tax free.
My mother: I know, its awful, Sister Generous should have kept her money.
Me: Of course, we were all thinking the end was just around the corner and no one needed to save for their old age. Now, the Society has it all and Sister Generous, who really needs it, has nothing. Its not like theyre going to give the money back to her. At least other religions set up hospitals and care facilities, even food banks for the poor. Youd think with all the buildings the Society has they could at least use some of it to help the older Witnesses. I mean, the older Bethelites are taken care of. Why not those who have paid the money to the Society in the first place?
My mother says, Yeah, thats right. And to think of the money I gave them. Well, it wasnt much since I only had my pension, but still! One things for sure, theyre not getting one more penny from me! That's really awful!
Me (inwardly grinning from ear to ear ). One small victory at a time!