E
empantarhei
Guest
When I had lost three members of my family in nine months, it was of course, a grievous time. It was also a time when we were more open to letting people into our homes without automatically thinking creepy possible criminal. So, one day, while still reeling, my mother, God rest her soul, benevolently received a JW into the house; her main reason was the fact that her best friend was a JW. My mother had no intention of changing her own faith; she simply wanted to understand her friend’s faith. When the JW started to preach with first hand knowledge 
as to what was happening to my dead family I became a little testy. Forget theology and doctrines for a moment: she told me that she knew for a fact my family was simply rotting in the ground. “How rude and hurtful to say it that way. And how do you know this for a fact?” I asked. She replied, and get this:** I just do.**
“A ha,” I said. “What, then, is your definition of faith?” She never answered that question. I then asked several questions regarding specific scriptures on the matter and others and she could not respond to any, all the while stating that the Bible is to be lived literally. “Well, if that’s true, wouldn’t you only own one pair of shoes?” (Can’t quote now, but I knew it then.) Again, a dumbfounded look to her face. There is no doubt I was testy, but I kept my cool, at least in front of her. I was also only 16; not as wise in compassion, respect, et al. In the end, my kindly mother politely took the Watchtower pamphlet and asked the woman to leave. “This is enough. You are upsetting my daughter.” And out of character for my mother, she added something to the effect of, “None of that makes any sense as anything I’ve ever read in the Bible. Nor does it make sense, period.”
After that, my mother and I read from the Bible on the subjects raised.
Not that we needed to per se; we knew what was there.But it was gratifying to reaffirm what we already knew and to see it print. Again.
What’s odd; my mother was not particularly or outwardly obeservant/religious, yet she always knew to be gently firm in her faith, gently firm in her life, and lived a very Christian life by way of example; one of love.
And I’m not just saying that because she was my mother. I hope she is helping with the tending of the animals and teaching my baby all about them.
as to what was happening to my dead family I became a little testy. Forget theology and doctrines for a moment: she told me that she knew for a fact my family was simply rotting in the ground. “How rude and hurtful to say it that way. And how do you know this for a fact?” I asked. She replied, and get this:** I just do.**“A ha,” I said. “What, then, is your definition of faith?” She never answered that question. I then asked several questions regarding specific scriptures on the matter and others and she could not respond to any, all the while stating that the Bible is to be lived literally. “Well, if that’s true, wouldn’t you only own one pair of shoes?” (Can’t quote now, but I knew it then.) Again, a dumbfounded look to her face. There is no doubt I was testy, but I kept my cool, at least in front of her. I was also only 16; not as wise in compassion, respect, et al. In the end, my kindly mother politely took the Watchtower pamphlet and asked the woman to leave. “This is enough. You are upsetting my daughter.” And out of character for my mother, she added something to the effect of, “None of that makes any sense as anything I’ve ever read in the Bible. Nor does it make sense, period.”
After that, my mother and I read from the Bible on the subjects raised.
Not that we needed to per se; we knew what was there.But it was gratifying to reaffirm what we already knew and to see it print. Again.
What’s odd; my mother was not particularly or outwardly obeservant/religious, yet she always knew to be gently firm in her faith, gently firm in her life, and lived a very Christian life by way of example; one of love.
And I’m not just saying that because she was my mother. I hope she is helping with the tending of the animals and teaching my baby all about them.
