Y'know, dear Zoe (peace, luv!)... as someone who can't keep up with birthdays, anniversaries (not even my OWN, which is why it's on my son's birthday - the one triggers my memory as to the other, but last year I forgot BOTH - LOLOL!), holidays, etc., I can see how the JW take on such days can be very convenient - again, it was one of the things that attracted me (WHEW! Don't have to remember all those DAYS!!).
That said, I also think many who are naturally "small-hearted" relish the doctrine, too. Easy way to get out of spending money... time... on someone else. Don't even have to make an excuse/apologize - nothing "missed."
I am TRULY sorry your parents weren't more generous with you on NON-JW-taboo days, though. No excuse for that, IMHO. I mean, how can you say you "love Jehovah", and yet IGNORE what "he" says about children? (Psalm 127:3 - Although, of course, the WTBTS use of the Hebrew word "ben" used in that verse to denote solely "sons"... versus "children"... although the word is used for "children" at least 1,568 times in the Hebrew Scriptures... isn't surprising. Their entire religion stands on misogynistic tenets, including their prohibition against women serving as "ministerial servants", in stark contrast to the FACT that women served as such during the first century (i.e., Phoebe, Lydia, Priscilla, Joanna, etc.). They point fingers at the RCC, yet push the same melarkey.).
Your poor uber-ensconced and super-mentally/spiritually enslaved parents probably thought that showing any (additional) attention to a GIRL was, well, just a no-no. They were wrong and so I apologize to you, on their behalf. They should have had enough NATURAL AFFECTION to have known better. Please... forgive them... because I really believe they didn't TRULY know what they were doing.
Peace to you, dear one!
YSFS of Christ,
Shel
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