In Reply to: Let the dead bury the dead & Berg's forsake all doctrine posted by MG on October 23, 2003 at 15:22:24:
I think so much in the Family depended on the individuals you happened to live with. Especially post-Charter years, when there was a great deal more leeway in the Homes and way less oversight.
I experienced some years and Homes where things were tough and the Family members I lived with were tough.
On the other hand, it was not always so. Around 1996 or so, my 65 year old mother, living in NY State, had a cancer operation and had her larynx removed so that she would never speak again. The time immediately following the surgery was critical and tough for her, she was very weak and could not care for herself and hated being in the hospital and wanted to go home, and my only brother could provide limited support. So, despite being a single mother of 6, my home allowed me to fly from Texas to NY to spend app. 6 weeks, which spanned the "all important" Christmas push, to care for her in her home while the Home cared for my kids, then ages 3 to 18.
The Family folks I was living with at the time were, in my opinion, "true" Christians and I believe, last I heard, they are all still in the Family.
This is not intended to be a "pro-Family" post; I could share some pretty awful memories too if we were on a different topic; however, once in a while it's nice to remember the good things that happened as well and the good people I knew, and the topic of caring for our "flesh" families brought this memory up for me.
- Laura