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Maybe we know that moment: Someone asks us: “How are you?” And even though things actually feel completely different inside, we automatically say: “I’m good, thanks.” A quick smile. A little nod. And we carry on. But sometimes, we simply don’t feel like smiling. Sometimes we’re just tired. Sometimes disappointed. Sometimes sad. Sometimes everything feels like too much — and we don’t even really know why. And that’s exactly when it’s important to remember one simple thought: You don’t always have to be okay. We’re not machines. We have feelings. And feelings change. There are days when we feel full of strength. And there are days when we just want to withdraw somewhere and be alone. That doesn’t make us weak. Quite the opposite. It makes us human. Maybe sometimes we think: “I’m not allowed to be sad right now. Other people have it much worse.” Or: “I have to be strong for everyone else.” Of course, we don’t want to burden others with our problems. But we don’t have to wear a mask either. Because Jehovah doesn’t expect us to wear a mask. We see that beautifully in Psalm 34:18. It says that Jehovah is close to those who have a broken heart. What a comforting thought! Jehovah isn’t only with us when we’re happy. Not only when we have everything under control. Not only when we appear strong. He is especially close when our heart is heavy. Imagine a little boy coming home after a long day. He doesn’t say anything. He takes off his shoes, sits down, and simply stares into space. His father immediately notices: Something isn’t right. Maybe he doesn’t even ask many questions. He simply sits down beside him. And after a while, the boy moves just a little closer. No big conversation. No clever advice. Just being there. And perhaps that is sometimes the most beautiful thing we can give another person: “You don’t have to explain anything right now. I’m simply here with you.” Isn’t it comforting to know that Jehovah knows us that way too? He doesn’t just see our smile. He sees the tear that nobody else notices. He knows when we’re tired. He knows when something has hurt us. He knows when we’re struggling inside, even though everything looks completely normal on the outside. That’s why we never have to pretend in front of Jehovah. We can even tell him in prayer: “Jehovah, I’m not doing well today.” And maybe the situation doesn’t change immediately. But something else does: We no longer have to carry it alone. And there’s something else that’s important: When we’re not feeling okay, it doesn’t mean that we are worth any less. Our worth doesn’t depend on how productive we were today. It doesn’t depend on how warmly we were able to smile today. And it certainly doesn’t depend on whether we always appear strong. Jehovah doesn’t love us only on our good days. He loves us even on the days when we may barely understand ourselves. So we can give ourselves permission to simply be human sometimes. To be sad. To be exhausted. To be quiet. And perhaps today, we need these words ourselves: “I don’t have to be okay all the time.” Because if Jehovah won’t let go of me even when I can barely hold on to myself, then I have a reason to hope again. And this is the thought I would love for us to carry with us, long after this is over: You don’t have to be strong every day. You don’t have to smile every day. You don’t always have to be okay. But never forget this: Even on your hardest day, you are never too much for Jehovah.

Just discovered these are Meta Glasses!

My husband and I were out doing carts this past week and a belligerent woman walk up to us and started a conversation. We spoke on many topics but, one that struck me and my husband was that she told me she had AI glasses. She said she went into this Korean restaurant and one of the korean waiters said to his co-worker "she always is a pest" her glasses interpreted the conversation and she immediately rapped back to the waiter "no I'm not". Also, these glasses take photos and records conversations. She was showing me the glasses and how she can hit a tiny instrument on her glasses and take photos. She was real proud of her glasses. I kept the conversation rolling so my husband could take notes. I was taken back by all this information. So, in retrospect how many of our young brothers have these? Sisters? One elder in our congregation told us that they found the "Elders book" online. Brothers, beware! This is not something I heard but, saw with my own eyes and so did my husband. You can get this online or according to her, your eye doctor. You still need a prescription though. When there are elders meetings, are there young brothers that wear glasses? Should they be inspected? I don't know but, these glasses are an invasion of privacy.

As in the film 'I Robot' they are simply wAIting for the right time.

I feel so it is the loop with the android now. 😌

I read somewhere that a bad strain of COVID is going around right now. Sounds like they have it... We had a bunch get *something* around here too...but I don't know enough detail to say what. All I know is I've been taking 1000mg Vitamin C for the past month and amazingly I haven't caught it. My body likes to try every flavor of COVID & other sinus infections. And my wife uses Profi to block all sinus infections. Both our strategies seem to have spared us whatever is going around.

Good suggestion, thanks Richard!

Yes he was. He was prescribed Paxlovid and when he felt better, he used the second test to confirm that he wasn't still positive for Covid. My point is, buy a two test 3 in 1 Covid/Flu kit. They are easily available.

No, the brother I know was too busy holding his wife so she couldn't see what was happening because she couldn't bear to see the second one hit

I want to try it at the Apple Store and see how JW Library works.

So he wasn't positive for Covid after all?

Uh.... That's not a helpful comparison for some of us....

I don't think many friends will own an iphone duo... this is more expensive than a gaming computer

I was working till late on the 10th, tried to sleep in but got a call at 7am about it. Tuned in to see the 2nd plane fly in

I recently purchased a two test kit from Walmart for an older brother that was sick. He found out he had Covid and had his doctor send him Paxlovid. He used the second test to confirm he wasn't positive.

There are 3 in 1 Covid/Flu tests available that will help identify what they have.

Hi Everyone, Could use your help. Apparently many brothers/sisters got sick after a recent International Convention here in the U.S. I have a friend who is now very sick also. He said he has been sick the past few days and he has a terrible cough that won't go away. And that his lungs feel like they are on fire or at other times it feels like knives are in his chest! Could this be more than just a cold or flu? Could this be a strain of Covid? Has anyone heard about similar symptoms? Any advice, suggestions, to help this brother? Any advice/help is appreciated Thanks

Hi everyone! I’ve had this old clipping since around 2003. I believe it was written shortly after 9/11, but I’m not sure whether it’s an official announcement or just a personal report. Does anyone recognize it or know if it’s official? I’d also appreciate some help translating it accurately.

Is that the brother who took a video of the plane hitting the tower? The video was posted publicly on jw.org for a while. I saw the video and wondered, "What's that doing on jw.org?" Shortly after, the video was taken down.

Here is the article: https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/ukraine/European-Court-of-Human-Rights-Rules-in-Favor-of-Religious-Tolerance-in-Ukraine/

On the JW board I was on at that time (might have been WOL Witnesses Online) we had 1 member whose brother, also a Witness, died in the attack. Can't remember the sister's name now.

I was at my office, giving a new employee a "tour" of the office (where is the bathroom, fax machine, etc.). While we were by the sink in the "break room" one of my employees came downstairs from her office and said she had just heard that an airplane had run into one of the World Trade Center towers. In 2001 there was not the "on-line" availability we have now, so during the day, as different ones in the office heard something they would give us an update. Incidentally, that new employee is still working for the CPA firm. Only, my CPA license is in "retired" status with the State of Florida. My son is now running the firm. But in today's world it is unusual for an employee to stay at the same job in a small (less than six people) office for 25 years. She has turn out to be a good employee. Clients seem to like her and she puts up with those who call because they do not want to pay the tax they owe. In February, 2002, I had the privilege of doing "temporary Bethel Service" for a week. While there, even though I was working at Patterson there were people at Patterson who had been at the Brooklyn Bethel complex on 9/11, I talked with some Bethelites who had seen the people jumping out of the windows (the ones above where the planes hit and there was no way for them to get downstairs past the burning portion of the bulding). Several Bethelites who talked about that said that it was VERY troubling for them at the time to see individuals jumping out of the window to certain death, to avoid being burned alive. When I first heard that an airplane had hit the building I did not think much about it. I remembered reading the history that in 1945 a B-25 bomber had run into the Empire State Building, and the people in the airplane were killed, but the Building stayed intact. It was not until much later that I learned the difference in construction between the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center Towers. Apparently, the Empire State Building was built with a steel frame, throught the whole building, exterior walls, interior walls, etc. There was steel throught the whole structure, especially on the exterior. Whereas, the World Trade Center towers were constructed with the structural steel in the central core of the building where the elevators and stairs were. There was very little steel framing out from that central core. When the airplanes struck, and the fire started, there was not any exterior steel framing to hold the building up. And when the heat from the fire weakened the steel in the central core, everything came down. I remember hearing stories when the World Trade Center Towers first went up that the people in the offices were told not to put file cabinets, or any heavy furniture, near the exterior walls. All heavy furniture, cabinets, etc., were to be placed in the center of the building. Now, knowing that there was no significant steel on the exterior part of the towers, it makes sense that heavy items had to be in the center, next to the steel framework running up through the center. When I heard the towers had "fallen" the picture in my mind was of a movie many years ago showing a tall building in Hong Kong falling over on its side. It was not until the end of the day, when I got home and could see the TV film that I realized the buildings just collapsed in place. I remember after 9/11 our instructions from the Society for field service were to not emphasize any placements. Rather, they gave us some comforting scriptures to share with people. I picked the scripture from Philippians 4:6,7 "Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made kown to God; and the peace of god that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus." I found this to be helpful. In one particular instance, the man was on his driveway working on his car. He was already upset at something about his car. Then I come up (a total stranger) wanting to read the Bible to him. He at first did not want to hear anything, but then he laid down the wrench in his hand and turned to me. As I read the scriptue from Philippians, I could see his face visibly soften as I read the two verses. Then, in line with our direction, I thanked him for listening and left. Will we have anything else like this to happen before everything ends. We do not know. We might speculate, but that does not do any good. We will just have to wait and see. I am thankful that the Governing Body had the presence of mind to suggest at that time we take into account the attitude of people after such a disaster, and suggest some comforting message we could share at a very difficult time for everyone. Thanks, Jim

My Seal Point Ragdolls- Lucia and Cayman -

A little off topic but I recently saw a YT video of a pilot who was scheduled to be the First Officer on the first plane that struck the tower. He was about to leave his house for the airport when he checked the schedule on the webpage and found he had been replaced by a more senior pilot. I also know a brother who was at Bethel during that time and was on the roof and watched the second plane hit the tower.

The question is, did he come to this conclusion after a long, deep research session - or while watching