The Funeral Story or Why I Can't Forgive My MIL (TW: Suicide)

People with no soul like to take moments when you're the most vulnerable as opportunities to hurt you because they know you can't fight back.

Example: I had a relative die I didn't much care for but I was there to support her daughter. She was grieving so hard, she was having full on breakdowns during the wake, so a lot of my time was just following her around and making sure she stayed on her feet and was able to keep going.

Well, they were Jehovahs Witness and despite the fact the person who died had not gone to services in decades, the Elders decided to show up! For those who don't know much about JW, think Reverend since it's pretty close, equivalence wise.

So, I see them come through the door right as the daughter collapses again. I start pulling her up, because while her mother didn't go she is an active member and I know she can't be seen like that or she will catch trouble. I tell her everything is going to be fine. That she is going to see her mother again one day and it's all going to be fine.

"No she won't! She's never going to come back to a paradise Earth because she didn't go to meetings. Of course, you would know that if you bothered to attend meetings anymore yourself."

It's one of the Elder's. who I know no one invited, standing right behind us, the other in front, while i'm holding the daughter up. We can't leave and here and now isn't the time to argue my views on their religion or punch them in the face for what they just said. So I go the deescalation route.

Me: "I currently live in another state, which is why you haven't seen me in a while. But, further more, now really isn't the time to talk about who gets to come back, don't you think?"

I gesture to the openly weeping person in my arms, and the first Elder still tries to argue some more, even as the second Elder realizes their error and pulls him out of the door by his shoulder.

What your MIL did to you was horrible, and I can sympathize a lot. Remember this when you pick out her elderly care home later.

/r/JUSTNOMIL Thread