I read the thread that Beryblue started above and some of the responses made me wonder. Most people responded regarding loving jehovah out of fear. I am not now nor ever was a JW but these responses were similar to something a friend said the other day (and other times, too).
She is a JW since 2000 and is 42 years old with a disease that keeps her homebound and quite frequently bed-bound. She was my girlfriend off-and-on until recently (although this has gone on since 2000...) and made a comment about how she loves jehovah more than anybody including her own kids and family. I found this not only insulting and selfish but demeaning to her family.
Her mother and sister have done a tireless (and often thankless -- she can be a bitch) job of caring for her since she started having the problems which I mention above in November of last year. They have cleaned her, bathed her, wiped her ass, put on diapers, cleaned her house, fed and done almost everything needed for their daughter/sister. They drive her where needed and do most everything she needs to get to doctors' appointments and the like. In all fairness a couple of the female JWs from her congregation (the exceptions from what I have read of others' experiences with JWs) have done some to help her, mostly housecleaning, cooking, etc. but a little personal stuff and a few rides.
Then she has the audacity to make the comment (at least to me, I don't know if she's got the gall to say it to her mom and sis) about loving jehovah more than anyone else! How can someone way this and mean it?
I guess my question is this: what motivated people here to feel like this when they were "in"? Was it fear of jehovah? Real affection? Did you feel like this? I find it impossible to understand. I really wish I had thought about it at the time but I should have asked her, simply, "Why?" I imagine her answer would not only have been interesting to me but quite possibly an eye-opener for her, also, had she actually had to think of her reasons for that statement.
I do plan to ask it next time we speak if she says that. I really find it annoying and just wish she'd make the comment to either mom or sis. I'd like to see them tell her to let the j-man take up some of the slack and see just how long it took her to fully appreciate what her "2nd class" family (they aren't JWs) does for her. Does jehovah do sponge baths? Write checks? Loan money? Hmmm.....
Robert