Awake!, April 22, 1988

Awake! — April 22, 1988

Source: jw.org

Contents

Page Two

The Quest for Money

Money—A Cruel Master

Money—Your Obedient Servant

Buying Happiness Without Money

From the Brink of Death

Beneficial Partnerships in the Animal World

Only Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Learning From the Witnesses

How Can I ‘Honor My Father and My Mother’?

Twins—How Close Are They?

From Our Readers

Watching the World

Communal Nest-Builders

He Ordered 50 Copies!

Page Two

Page Two

“I’m tired of Love: I’m still more tired of Rhyme. But Money gives me pleasure all the time.”​—Fatigue, by Hilaire Belloc.

Money figures prominently wherever we live. Many rich people trust it. Millions who are poor crave it. But is it a passport to happiness? The following articles offer the answer.

The Quest for Money

The Quest for Money

By Awake! correspondent in Britain

‘MY GOAL,’ admits Julian from the Philippines, ‘was to be a millionaire by the time I was 45.’ Karel, from South Africa, confesses, “I was possessed with the aim of being rich.”

Of course, not all, realistically, want to be millionaires but do desire to have enough possessions and money to enjoy life and to do what they want. This was the attitude of Japanese businessman Kichisaburo who said, “I thought these things would lead to happiness.”

Liz, from Canada, felt similarly. “As a young person,” she relates, “I believed that money brought freedom from worry.” Her husband, Tom, hoped that money would help him “get away from it all, . . . where there would be no crime, no pollution, no two-faced people to deal with.”

On the Move​—For Money

Throughout history, people seeking wealth have been on the move. In colonial days, British businessmen followed hard on the heels of explorers to commandeer the mineral resources of whole continents, such as Africa. Then, with the decline of the empire and with recent economic crises, the movement has often been in the reverse direction as Commonwealth citizens travel to Britain, not necessarily to become rich, but to make sufficient money to support their families.

Thousands of men and women leave the Philippines in search of work in other places, and many find employment in the Persian Gulf states and elsewhere. Mexicans and many from Central and South America migrate northward in the hope of earning money in the United States. Many European countries play host to people from the Middle East and North Africa.

According to South Africa’s Manpower Review of January 1987, the number of officially registered migrant workers there was 371,008 as of June 30, 1985. The report adds, however, that “there are an estimated 1.5-million illegals who have slipped into South Africa to tap some of its wealth.”

Even within today’s more affluent nations, people are on the move to make money. This is true in Britain. More and more people are working in the south and keeping their homes in the north. To illustrate why, a residence in central London (in the south), described as a “broom-cupboard flat [apartment],” having only 61 square feet [5.6 sq m], recently came on the market for a staggering £36,000 [$54,000, U.S.]. Yet, this sum of money buys a three-bedroom house within 80 miles [130 km] of London.

There are some 60,000 Asian inhabitants of Bradford, a city in northern England. Many of these immigrants came to this industrial center to work in its woolen mills. But as automation cut the labor force, the unemployed now rely on government social security payments for their livelihood. Thus, many find that their quest for money ends in despair.

Developing Countries

Similarly, in developing countries, the prospect of regular employment attracts thousands from their homes in rural villages to the cities. True, many find jobs. But do their earnings bring happiness?

What little remuneration workers receive must first pay the often exorbitant rents on substandard accommodations, possibly in the sprawling slums that surround the towns. The remainder has to meet the pressing needs of their relatives back home in the village. In Africa, for example, at the end of the month, many city post offices are full of men lined up to purchase money orders for their dependent relatives back in the villages.

Even when families live together in the cities, further economic burdens press in. Money must be set aside for health care, for transportation, for school fees, for food, and for rented accommodations. The list appears endless. It is little wonder that many town dwellers hold down two jobs.

Does this read like a recipe for happiness? Hardly. So, then, whether you move or stay where you are, the question remains, What role does money play in your life? The answer is crucial to your happiness.

Money—A Cruel Master

Money​—A Cruel Master

ADVERTISING uses subtle psychological ploys to foster the consumer society. It persuades people to ‘buy things they don’t need with money they don’t really have, sometimes to impress people they don’t really like.’

Many are induced to try to make lots of money in the hope of achieving security. But does this lead to the desired result?

Liz, mentioned earlier, eventually married a financially secure husband. She says: “When I married, we had a beautiful home and two cars, and our financial situation allowed us freedom to enjoy anything the world had to offer in the way of material things, travel, and recreation. Oddly enough, I still worried about money.” She explains why: “We had so much to lose. It seems that the more you have, the less secure you feel. Money did not bring freedom from worry or anxiety.”

Although the quest for money is a distinguishing mark of our times, true contentment rarely results. “An obsession with money may seem natural in the 1980s, an age of materialism,” writes David Sylvester in the Detroit Free Press. “But I see this materialism as only a symptom of our uneasiness.”

Credit or Debit?

Even if your income does not permit you to buy certain luxuries, our materialistic society would have you believe that it is your right to have them. This emphasis on the enjoyment of possessions, coupled with inflation, has spawned the booming credit card, or plastic money, business. The rationale is that ‘it makes no sense to wait before buying since the price will surely be higher if you do so.’

Britain, with 22.6 million credit and charge cards, now carries the label of the “biggest user” of such cards in Europe, dwarfing France’s 6.9 million. Even so, it is claimed, the market in Britain is “not yet saturated.” How times have changed! “Debt was once something to be avoided,” comments The Listener magazine. “Today it is called credit, and is urged on consumers from all sides.”

As a result, global debt has soared and now threatens the world’s richest nations. And on the individual level, debt as a proportion of income is higher than ever. This situation is by no means limited to one country or even one continent. “In days gone by, black people never used credit,” comments a black resident of South Africa. But he adds: “It is their credit that helps many firms, such as furniture shops, remain in business.”

“We’re the IOU generation,” comments business writer David Sylvester, “overspending, underinvesting, living like tomorrow never will come​—or if it does, social security will bail us out.” So, has this materialistic approach to life brought happiness?

Sad Consequences

“City high flyers ‘ease pressure with cocaine,’” headlined The Daily Telegraph of London. Yes, more and more highly paid young businessmen, faced with tremendous pressures as they negotiate money deals, fall afoul of a growing plague: drug addiction.

New York’s financial district, centered on Wall Street, suffers the same epidemic. A Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent reportedly said: “Those involved are very discreet. People don’t just blatantly snort coke but make no mistake, 90% of them in the financial district accept its use. Those whizz-kids burdened with all their pressures are scared stiff that they can’t make a deal unless they’re high on something.”

But the criminal activity that currently stains the financial markets is by no means limited to drug abuse. There are reports of massive fraud and insider trading.

“How can people who earn more than $1 million a year need money so badly that they are prepared to break laws to get even more?” asks Wall Street psychiatrist Jay B. Rohrlich. Answering his own question, Rohrlich continues: “Some people actually get high and hooked on money in the same way that others become addicted to alcohol and cocaine and other drugs.” To them, he explains, “money becomes the antidote to a perceived sense of insufficiency.”

In our increasingly materialistic world, the amassing of a fortune is no longer frowned upon. A survey, published in the French magazine Le Figaro, reveals that money does not have ‘a bad smell’ anymore. Interestingly, when asked what they thought money can offer, 45 percent of the French surveyed answered: happiness. But, sadly, just the opposite is true.

Can anything be done to counteract the inordinate desire for money that has resulted in so much unhappiness?

Need for Self-Examination

You may not feel that you are addicted to money. But consider: Is money or what money can buy a main topic of your conversation? Do you place a lot of emphasis on money? Do you reason that your view of it is nothing out of the ordinary and so justify a craving for it?

No question about it, there is a danger in falling under money’s spell, becoming its slave. A wise teacher of two thousand years ago warned of its “deceptive power” and likened the pleasure of having lots of money to thorns that choke the life from nearby fruit-bearing plants. (Matthew 13:22) The Bible also warns that “the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things” and that those who pursue it ‘stab themselves all over with many pains.’​—1 Timothy 6:10.

Truly, when money dominates, it is a cruel master. Yet, it has a useful role in today’s world​—as a servant.

Money—Your Obedient Servant

Money​—Your Obedient Servant

“BETWEEN 1968 and 1986 the proportion of adults in Great Britain with a building society savings account rose from 15% to 64%,” reported the Glasgow Herald. In contrast, the paper observed: “The number of people who belong to a Christian Church has fallen.”

Money, or Mammon, has long been considered to be in opposition to God, no doubt because of Jesus’ words: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other . . . Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”​—Matthew 6:24, King James Version.

At the same time, however, the Bible says, “Money is for a protection.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12) Or as a person in modern times put it, “Money speaks sense in a language all nations understand.”

But how can we see to it that money benefits rather than dominates us?

Content With Essentials for Life

Food

Clothing

Shelter

The above are essentials. You need them to be happy. As the Bible says: “So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.” You really do not need any more. “For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out.”​—1 Timothy 6:7, 8.

However, what if the money you earn is not sufficient to provide you with what you consider to be necessities? Then you may contemplate a move to an area where your wages will cover your needs. But here is where you need to evaluate the situation honestly and carefully, for God’s Word goes on to warn: “Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin.”​—1 Timothy 6:9.

Wisely heed this warning! Listen to the Christian apostle Paul who urged, “Let your manner of life be free of the love of money.” (Hebrews 13:5) Examine yourself, asking: ‘Am I content with just the essentials? Or do I yearn for luxuries?’

True, money can provide enjoyable extras. “Bread is for the laughter of the workers, and wine itself makes life rejoice,” the Bible says, “but money is what meets a response in all things.” Yet, the extras that money can buy are not essential to true happiness.​—Ecclesiastes 10:19.

Money Management

What, then, can you do to keep money in its proper place, as a servant? It is vital to live within one’s means. For example, Liz, mentioned earlier, says: “I now realize that the source of my family’s problems when I was a child was poor money management. We purchased on credit, and therefore we always had a debt hanging over our heads. This brought anxiety.”

You will, of course, need to reckon carefully just what money you have available. On receipt of your income, first set aside money to pay for the essentials. In this way, your money will be a protective servant, as Ecclesiastes 7:12 says it can be.

Reasonable foresight is a necessary part of good money management. Set aside the amounts needed to care for coming expenses. But, remember, an obsessive concern for a monetarily secure future is really a damaging form of materialism.

Remember, too, that some of the money you have may not really be yours. Do you recall when Jesus was asked about the matter of paying taxes? He requested a coin and inquired, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

“Caesar’s,” was the answer.

“Pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar,” Jesus replied.

Thus, duly constituted governments rightly demand tax money in payment for such services as health care, education, and transportation facilities. If you desire God’s favor, then you are under obligation to pay the prescribed amount demanded for taxes.​—Mark 12:13-17.

Another Essential

Besides food, clothing, and shelter, there is another essential that we cannot neglect without causing ourselves serious problems. Can you determine what this essential is from these words of Jesus: “Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches, so that, when such fail, they may receive you into the everlasting dwelling places”?​—Luke 16:9.

Riches do fail. Of that many of us are well aware as we find the purchasing power of our money eaten away by inflation. So, then, as long as we are alive, we will want to use our money in a way that will make friends of those who can receive us into “everlasting dwelling places.” Who are these benefactors?

Jesus Christ himself gave the answer when he said in prayer: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) Yes, if we want life beyond our present short, trouble-filled existence, it is absolutely essential that we become friends of our Creator, Jehovah God, and his Son, Jesus.

But, you ask, how can I do this? What will it cost me? Will this bring real happiness?

[Picture on page 8]

Jesus’ teaching ‘to pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar’ places a responsibility on us today

Buying Happiness Without Money

Buying Happiness Without Money

PARCHED with thirst after walking a distance under the tropical sun, you arrive at a small village. To your delight you spot a sign advertising that cold drinks are available. But then you realize you do not have any money with you to pay for the refreshment.

Seeing your predicament, the storekeeper says, ‘Come on, buy the drink​—it will not cost any money.’ Immediately, you feel deep gratitude for this kind offer. However, you ask, ‘How can that be? How can I buy without money?’

Buying Without Money

Fanciful though this appears to be, both Karel and Julian, mentioned on page 3, had such an experience. They had believed that money would bring them happiness. But as Karel explains: “A study of the Bible changed my view of money. It provided a hope of everlasting life in a paradise earth, something worth more than anything money can buy.” Former aspiring millionaire Julian relates: “I was well on my way to reaching my goal when I learned the truth from the Bible.”

Likewise, former supermarket operator Kiyoshi Tomomitsu from Japan used to put his work first, while caring for his family was only a “secondary interest.” He reasoned: “I thought I could make my family happy by providing sufficient material things for their future.” When asked what changed his view of money and material things, Kiyoshi answers: “Scriptures from the Bible, such as Proverbs 23:23, which says, ‘Buy truth itself and do not sell it.’”

‘But,’ you ask, ‘how can I “buy truth”?’

The Cost of Happiness

It will cost some of your time. ‘Buy out the opportune time,’ advises the Christian apostle Paul, ‘for the days are wicked.’ (Ephesians 5:15-17) Jehovah’s Witnesses in your locality will be pleased to arrange to talk with you about the truths from God’s Word, the Bible, at a time convenient to you, and this completely free of monetary charge.

Do you feel reluctant to ‘get involved’? If you do, then take heart from Jesus’ words: “Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled.” Directing his listeners’ attention to the means by which they could gain happiness, Jesus stated: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.” (Matthew 5:3, 6) This heavenly government, God’s Kingdom, is the sole authority able to grant you your “passport to happiness.”

What role, then, should money play in your life? Interestingly, the Bible offers practical guidelines on this.

Wise Use of Money Now

“Honor Jehovah with your valuable things,” counsels God’s Word. (Proverbs 3:9) Consequently, those who look to God for true happiness use their money in a way that pleases him. They aim to care adequately for their family’s material needs. (1 Timothy 5:8) They make honest provision for others who are related to them in the faith. And they also make voluntary contributions to support the work of providing spiritually upbuilding information in the form of Bibles and Bible-based publications, such as this magazine.

Knowing that God’s Kingdom will rid human society of its materialistic, selfish commercial elements, they avoid being sidetracked into pouring money into schemes that are already doomed to failure. (Daniel 2:44) “Having sustenance and covering,” they are content with a life-style that cares for life’s priorities.​—1 Timothy 6:8.

Happiness Now​—A Reality

“One of the first things I noticed on coming into contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses,” relates Sue from England, “was how those who lived by Bible principles, who were totally involved in their worship, seemed to have the things they needed.” Her husband, John, noted the same thing. He explains:

“It’s only because of knowing the Bible truths that I can see what is happening to most people. What they are working for is totally dependent on money. The Bible helped me to learn that happiness does not come that way. Now I realize that happiness is a by-product of doing things for others and that it is not an end in itself.”

John and Sue are just two among more than three million of Jehovah’s Witnesses who testify to the truthfulness of Jesus’ promise that when seeking first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness, all the material necessities “will be added to you.”​—Matthew 6:33.

Are you searching for the thirst-quenching waters of truth? Whether affluent or poor, happiness can be yours by heeding God’s prophetic call: “Hey there, all you thirsty ones! Come to the water. And the ones that have no money! Come, buy . . . even without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1) This offer is still valid. Take advantage of it while you can.

[Pictures on page 10]

Happiness results from using money to provide for our families and to help others

From the Brink of Death

From the Brink of Death

AS I looked in at my wife, Bonnie, lying in the hospital bed, I couldn’t help but think how everything happened so fast. She lay with her eyelids taped shut so that even a twitch would not drain what little energy remained in her body. Her skin was pure white; even her freckles had lost their color. Earlier that morning the doctor had said, “She’ll die for sure today.” One of the nurses had said, “She won’t last until noon.”

Why was Bonnie in such a desperate condition? How could the blessing of having a new baby transform itself into such a life-threatening situation? Let me recount the events that led up to my wife’s turbulent time of testing.

When Bonnie learned she was pregnant again, we were joyful but apprehensive. We were apprehensive because our ten-year-old daughter, Ashley, was born by cesarean section and because Bonnie had suffered two miscarriages since then. Added to these worrisome facts was the possibility that an issue over blood transfusions might arise. We are convinced that our Creator knows best when he admonishes at Acts 15:29, “Keep abstaining . . . from blood.”

Sudden Crisis

It was only about five weeks before Bonnie’s expected delivery date when we decided to spend Saturday, February 28, 1987, at the San Diego Zoo. Little did we realize that in less than 24 hours, the baby would arrive. Yes, the very next morning our serene feelings were shattered when Bonnie woke up in bed bleeding. We immediately called the doctor, and in a few minutes we were on our way to the hospital.

The doctor was aware of our position regarding blood transfusions, and because of this, he decided to perform a cesarean section immediately. We went to the surgery room where, in just a short time, the doctor handed our new baby daughter to the nurse. The nurse briefly showed our daughter to Bonnie, then took the baby to the nursery. I was told to go to the waiting room and that I could talk to my wife in the recovery room in about half an hour.

In the meantime, some of our friends had gathered in the waiting room, so I went out thinking everything was normal and made the announcement of the arrival of our new baby girl. What I didn’t realize was that during the cesarean operation, the doctor discovered Bonnie had a condition that required him to perform a hysterectomy. About two hours later, the doctor came out and informed me of what had happened. He explained that when delivery had started, Bonnie’s hemoglobin count had been 12.5 but had dropped to 6.1. She was considered to be on the outer edge of critical, but the doctor felt that everything would be just fine. However, problems soon started to mount.

Just 15 minutes after talking to the doctor, my name was called over the intercom to come to the baby nursery. Upon arrival, I was informed that our new daughter had turned blue and had gone into respiratory arrest. The baby had been revived and put on oxygen but would now need many tests, some of which could have severe complications. I had to sign consent forms for the testing and at the same time signed one stating that no blood was to be given.

Finally, after a few hours, I got to see my wife and talk to her. She was alert and positive. We were both thankful to Jehovah that everything seemed all right. I did not tell her that the baby had developed some problems because I didn’t want to upset her.

Bonnie’s Condition Worsens

Later that same day, Sunday, Bonnie’s condition worsened. When they took the next blood count, her hemoglobin had dropped to 2.5. She was bleeding internally! Then her blood pressure went down, all vital signs were weakening, and her breathing became labored. By Monday morning, Bonnie was confused and at times disoriented. The doctor had been consulting specialists throughout the night. He had even checked into the use of artificial blood. It was determined that the only possible treatment that might save her life was the hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

The Awake! magazine of May 22, 1979, describes this treatment as one that subjects the body to 100-percent oxygen at pressure greater than that of our atmosphere. The raised pressure dissolves oxygen in the body tissues in concentrations higher than normal. The chamber is used to treat blood loss, severe burns, and even bad infections. Bonnie would have to be transferred to the Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach, which is equipped with portable hyperbaric chambers and trained technicians to operate them.

By now Bonnie was so critical that she could not take the 30-minute ambulance ride between hospitals. So it was arranged that she would be transported by helicopter, a ride of only four minutes. A nurse who was a member of the helicopter medical team, after contacting the hospital and learning that Bonnie’s hemoglobin had dropped to 2.2, replied: “You must be mistaken. She should already be dead!”

Hyperbaric treatments were started Monday night and continued all night, one and a half hours in the chamber and two and a half hours out. The first two treatments appeared to revitalize Bonnie and boost her energy. But the close quarters of the chamber began to agitate her. The chamber has an intercom to talk through, so I used it to calm her down. By referring to the Paradise earth the Bible speaks of in Revelation 21 and Isaiah chapters 35 and 65 and reminding her of Jehovah’s loving care, I was able to get her to be more relaxed in the chamber.

Pressured to Accept Blood

Tuesday morning the doctor came to me and asked if I would reconsider my position on blood. He said there was a pink fluid coming from Bonnie’s incision that indicated she was still bleeding. Our decision was firm: no blood, live or die. Jehovah’s righteous standards would not be broken. So the doctor said he would pack the incision with a special foam adhesive designed to stop bleeding. It seemed to work.

By this time some of our relatives who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses were pressuring us to consent to a blood transfusion. This is understandable because every doctor involved was saying the same thing: “To save her life, all you have to do is let me give her a blood transfusion.” One family member began actively to pursue avenues to force a blood transfusion, contacting the police, an attorney, and even a newspaper.

By now the hospital administration was concerned that it might be sued if Bonnie didn’t survive as a result of not accepting a blood transfusion. A meeting was set up with a hospital employee who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She talked to the hospital administrators for 45 minutes regarding the Bible’s position on blood. She evidently satisfied them because they agreed to cooperate entirely with our wishes.

At Death’s Door

Meanwhile, Bonnie’s condition continued to deteriorate. By Wednesday morning she was disoriented most of the time, and her resting heart rate was 170, way above the normal of about 70. She had wide fluctuations in blood pressure. Her hemoglobin count was 2.2, and the hematocrit (the measure of cells in circulating blood) was an alarming 6. Normal is 40-65.

I’ll never forget that Wednesday morning. Doctors who had been consulting at Bonnie’s bedside asked to see me. “This is it,” they said. “Call the relatives and her friends. Bonnie is definitely going to die today. There is nothing else we can do. She will die from either a heart attack or a stroke. Even a blood transfusion would do nothing at this point. She is beyond all of that. We have changed her to a ‘do not resuscitate’ code status, which means we will not medicate her or try to revive her if her blood pressure drops.”

From that time on, visitors were no longer restricted to family. Dozens of fellow Witnesses who had maintained a presence in the waiting room were allowed to see Bonnie before she was to expire. After all had said their good-byes, the doctor had Bonnie maintained in a paralyzed state with a drug called Pavulon. This drug makes it impossible to move any muscles. A person goes into a state of deep sleep. Bonnie looked as though she were in a coma. The doctor said she would feel no pain in this condition if a heart attack ensued and that she would die comfortably. At this point her eyelids were taped shut so that even a twitch would not drain what little energy remained in her body.

For the first time, my daughter Ashley and I returned home to clean up and to try to get some much-needed rest. Upon entering the house, we both got down on our knees and cried together as we poured out our hearts to Jehovah. It seemed that everywhere we turned, the house reminded us of Bonnie. It really began to sink in to us what a good mother and wife she had been. We even made a verbal list of all the things Bonnie did for us that we would have to do now on our own. We knew that faithfulness on our part would ensure us of seeing her again after God destroys this old system and replaces it with a new one.

Wednesday evening we returned to the hospital, where all we could do was wait, although we never waited alone. Relatives and fellow Witnesses were always there to comfort us. Wednesday passed, and to the astonishment of the staff, Bonnie was still alive Thursday. Late that afternoon, the doctor came to me and said he wanted to try hyperbaric treatments again. The treatments continued throughout the night.

Condition Improves

On Friday morning, I was asleep in the lobby when I was awakened by two doctors. They quickly assured me that the news they brought was good and not bad. Bonnie had stabilized significantly. “You know what? I think we actually have reason for hope,” one doctor said. “If her blood pressure drops, it would now be unfair not to medicate her, so I’ve already changed the instructions on her chart. You have to remember that we are in uncharted waters here because we’ve never gone this far without using blood before.”

Saturday night I was by Bonnie’s bedside along with her nurse. We hung a picture of our new baby over Bonnie’s head even though her eyes were still taped shut. This was done so that when her eyes opened, the first thing she would see was a picture of her new baby. It was hoped that this would give her reason to keep fighting for life. Under these circumstances, I revealed to the nurse that the following day would be our 18th wedding anniversary. On hearing this, she wiped tears from her eyes.

Sunday was a good day because Bonnie’s hematocrit count rose to 11, and she was taken off Pavulon and awakened from the paralyzed state that she had been in for four days. But the doctor cautioned: “Don’t get your hopes up too high because anything can go wrong. You can celebrate when her hematocrit gets up to 20.”

Even so, my hopes went up. Being able to see my wife with her eyes open for the first time in four days was like being given new life. Bonnie couldn’t talk because she was on a respirator and very weak. I wished her a happy anniversary. She could only make movements with her mouth, but no sound would come out. She was so weak that even holding a pencil and writing was impossible.

At this point it was arranged to have our new baby transferred to Long Beach Memorial so that Bonnie could see the real thing and not just a photograph. When the baby arrived and was brought to the intensive care unit, the nurses showed the baby to Bonnie. They counted the fingers and toes, showing all the body parts so that Bonnie would know the baby was normal and healthy. Thankfully, the baby had recovered nicely.

The doctor was right, though, when he said not to celebrate too soon. New problems arose. Bonnie next developed two types of pneumonia, and her left lung partially collapsed. Besides this, she tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease. Any one of these complications could have killed her. I’m happy to say that none of them did. For 15 years Bonnie had served as a pioneer, as full-time ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses are called. So all the walking she had done in the ministry and a program of regular aerobic exercise had kept her in excellent physical condition. This no doubt strengthened her to survive these ordeals.

After losing 80 percent of her blood, spending 28 days in the hospital (22 of them in intensive care), and undergoing 58 sessions in the hyperbaric chamber, Bonnie was finally released to go home. Astonished, the doctor exclaimed: “She looks great. It’s a miracle, that’s all I can say.”

Although it was a turbulent, distressing time, there were positive results also. Doctors, nurses, administrators, persons of other faiths, and the news media were all helped better to understand the Bible’s view on blood. They were also eyewitnesses to unwavering faith at work.

Only two months after her grueling ordeal, Bonnie was out in the public preaching work again, doing the work she loves the most. And as an added blessing, she has a new pioneer partner, our baby girl, Allie Lauren.​—As told by Steven M. Beaderstadt.

[Blurb on page 12]

The helicopter medical-team nurse said, “She should already be dead!”

[Blurb on page 14]

The doctor said: “We are in uncharted waters here because we’ve never gone this far without using blood”

[Picture on page 13]

My wife was treated in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber like this one

[Credit Line]

Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach

[Picture on page 15]

My wife and our daughter after their recovery

Beneficial Partnerships in the Animal World

Beneficial Partnerships in the Animal World

SHAKESPEARE wrote, “Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.” And, indeed, there are many beneficial partnerships in the animal world. One of these involves the oxpecker bird, a resident of South Africa.

Approximately eight inches [20 cm] long, this bird is endowed with a broad, thickened yellow or red beak, short legs, and powerful claws. It is usually found sitting atop large game animals like hippos and on domestic cattle. Why? The oxpecker is busy exploring every crevice and wrinkle in their hides, seeking to rid its hosts of harmful ticks. Its work, however, is not without recompense, for these ticks are the oxpecker’s chief food source.

Both man and beast benefit from the oxpecker’s services. Ornithologist Oliver Austin, Jr., notes that “Bushmen and primitive farmers value [oxpeckers] for ridding their cattle of ticks.” To African game hunters, though, oxpeckers are a nuisance. How so? Imagine a hunter stealthily closing within striking distance of his quarry. Suddenly, up flies the vigilant sentinel​—the oxpecker bird! With clamorous, agitating cries, the oxpecker now alerts its partner that danger is near. Away flees the game!

The Flower Animal and the Shrimp

Another unusual relationship is that of the sea anemone and the anemone shrimp. The sea anemone is an invertebrate sometimes referred to as a ‘flower animal.’ To many small creatures and fish, a brush with this underwater beauty means certain death. Each of its tentacles can deliver a poisonous sting, immobilizing its victim. The anemone pulls the victim into its mouth at the base of its tentacles.

The anemone shrimp, however, is not affected by the stinging tentacles and lives securely among them. In this symbiotic relationship, the shrimp is protected from predators and provided food as it scavenges scraps of leftovers from the anemone. In turn, the anemone apparently benefits from the cleanup services of the anemone shrimp.

Other Partners at Sea

Fish, like humans, are subject to infection and disease. But can a fish take preventive measures to stay healthy? Yes, indeed, for some have formed an alliance with what is called the cleaner, or barber, fish. This tiny denizen of the deep is eagerly sought after by groupers, eels, rays, and sharks.

Just visualize these carnivores lined up at undersea cleaner stations, waiting their turn. A huge shark is first. The cleaner fish gives the shark a head-to-fin cleaning to remove any infected tissue. Then it disappears into the shark’s fearsome, tooth-studded mouth, cleaning away decayed scraps of food, parasites, and fungus. The cleaner fish also forages, with needlelike pointed teeth, down into the throat, then back up to exit through a gill opening. Job well done​—next patient, please!

For its more reserved clients, cleaner fish have been known to do a sort of dance, swimming sideways as if coaxing the shy fish to open its mouth so as to let the cleaner fish get to work. Soon the mouth opens and services are performed. So anxious are many fish to receive treatment that fights have been observed to break out among those waiting in line. In a six-hour period, one cleaner fish served 300 fish.

Yes, such animals have proved to be what the Bible calls “instinctively wise” in performing useful services for one another. (Proverbs 30:24) Perhaps we humans could take a lesson from them and learn to “practice giving” for the benefit of others!​—Luke 6:38.

Only Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Only Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Umberto Eco, world-famous historian, philosopher, and specialist in languages, reported in a newspaper column recently that two correspondents had taken him to task. Why? He says that they “advised me that I should not say ‘Geova’ [Italian for “Jehovah”] to indicate the God of the Old Testament, but ‘Iahveh’ or ‘Yahveh,’ because ‘Geova’ is spoken only by the Witnesses of the same.” His answer? “This is humbug because the dictionaries show ‘Geova’ as the current Italianization of Iahveh.”

Professor Eco is correct, of course. Interestingly, at one time Jehovah’s name must have been widely known in Italy, since it is used in the decoration of many churches there. One example can be seen in the accompanying photograph. It should be noted that in earlier times God’s name was spelled ‘Jeova’ rather than ‘Geova’ on Italian churches. Today, though, as the comments of Professor Eco’s correspondents indicate, if an ordinary Italian knows of the name Geova, it is more than likely because he heard it from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Learning From the Witnesses

Learning From the Witnesses

That is what an editorial in the Norwegian newspaper Troms Folkeblad of July 15, 1986, said that many could do. “The conventions and arrangements they have are almost perfect in their form and order. Nothing is left to chance,” the article noted.

“The success of sports teams and youth-group projects is often dependent on the willingness of each member to lend a hand. These should take note of the way Jehovah’s Witnesses organize their projects. Much can be learned by observing the willing spirit they display. It is almost unbelievable.”

How Can I ‘Honor My Father and My Mother’?

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I ‘Honor My Father and My Mother’?

‘NAME one thing that you do that hurts your relationship with your parents.’ This question was asked of 160 youths. Nearly 43 percent of the boys indicated it was by “failing to treat [the parent] with respect.” Of the girls, 42 percent said that they ‘ignored their father,’ and 63 percent said that they ‘talked back’ to their mother or in other ways were insubordinate and verbally abusive. Yet, many of these youths admitted that they felt a duty to make their parents ‘feel good’ and to be cooperative. But despite good intentions, they often failed.

Though you may really desire to follow the Bible’s command to honor your parents, you know there are times when you don’t. How can you avoid the pitfalls?​—Ephesians 6:2.

The Right Attitude

There are two ways that you can view your parents. Proverbs 30:17 speaks of “the eye that holds a father in derision and that despises obedience to a mother.” On the other hand, Proverbs 17:6 states, “The beauty of sons is their fathers.” So you can view your parent as someone to scorn and mock or as someone to be proud of, your glory, as it were. The view you adopt will determine whether you give that one respect or not.

“But how can one feel respect when one’s parents are not respectable,” wrote a youth named Louise. The answer is to search for their good qualities, appreciate these, and focus on them. Researchers Nick Stinnett and John DeFrain found that showing appreciation for family members was one of the major qualities of a strong family. “One reason we have problems expressing appreciation is that we haven’t learned to be good miners,” they explained in their book Secrets of Strong Families. “South African diamond miners spend their working lives sifting through thousands of tons of rock and dirt looking for a few tiny diamonds. Too often we tend to do just the opposite. We sift through the diamonds, eagerly searching for dirt. Our strong families are diamond experts.”

Every person has good qualities and accomplishments. If you look for the good, you’ll find it. By ‘finding the diamonds,’ you will be able to see reasons to respect your parents.

The proper view of your parents, however, starts with a proper view of yourself. If you don’t feel good about yourself, it is difficult to feel good about someone else. The apostle Paul advised first-century Christians: “I would say to every one of you not to estimate himself above his real value, but to make a sober rating of himself.”​—Romans 12:3, Charles B. Williams.

While you should not become prideful, avoid going to the other extreme by ignoring your “real value.” When your conduct is solidly based on the Bible, you can have confidence in your judgment, since “the reminder of Jehovah is trustworthy, making the inexperienced one wise.” (Psalm 19:7) Such confidence will prevent others from causing you to act disrespectfully.

Respectful Speech

Honor is shown to your parents by what you say to them and how you say it. When all is going well, this is usually no problem. But, at times, your parents will say or do things that hurt your feelings. Also, during the teenage years, many bewildering emotions may cause you to get angry with yourself. Frustrations, feelings of loss or betrayal, and fear can become a huge emotional burden. Because of such heavy vexations, you may react as did the man Job, who said: “That is why my own words have been wild talk.”​—Job 6:1-3.

“Wild talk,” however, can be disrespectful. “Sometimes when I was discussing a problem with Mom and she couldn’t see my point, I’d get mad and say something out of spite just to hurt her. It was my way of getting back at her,” admitted 22-year-old Roger. “But when I walked away, I felt so bad, and I knew she didn’t feel good either.”

Roger saw that his thoughtless words ‘stabbed’ and ‘caused pain’ and yet did not solve any problem. He knew that the Bible said, “The tongue of the wise ones is a healing.” (Proverbs 12:18; 15:1) “Though it was hard, I would go back and apologize,” explained Roger. “I knew that this was the best thing to do in Jehovah’s eyes. I could then discuss the problem more calmly, and we could get it solved.” Yes, a fitting apology shows that you really want to honor your parents.

Since abusive speech is usually fueled by anger, it is vital that you learn to deal properly with this potentially destructive emotion. “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control,” observes Proverbs 29:11. (New International Version) Thus, if you are angry, wait until your emotions are under control and then try to express yourself calmly. But cultivating respectful speech means more than just ‘counting to ten.’

The Need for Insight

“The insight of a man certainly slows down his anger, and it is beauty on his part to pass over transgression,” states Proverbs 19:11. The original Hebrew word for “insight” draws attention to the “knowledge of the reason” for something. So having insight will cause you to look beyond the immediate confrontation.

For instance, if a parent refuses to let you go somewhere, ask yourself, ‘Is my parent thinking of my best interests? What difference will it really make if I don’t go? Is it mainly my pride or ego that’s hurting?’ While the situation may be frustrating, is it the end of the world? After thinking it over, you may see good reasons to keep your mouth in check and not make a bad situation much worse by talking back.​—Proverbs 10:19; 16:23.

Insight nurtures understanding, for it enables you to draw in knowledge of another’s circumstances or background. (Proverbs 21:11) For example, one girl explained: ‘It used to get on my nerves to spend time with my family. But when my dad’s mother got very sick, we had to spend a lot of time with her. She talked to my father like he was a boy, and I never thought of him as being my age. So I started to think that he must have had a hard life, and I felt less selfish. Now I don’t get that mad at him when he asks me to do things.’

Also, insight helps you to see the beauty in ‘passing over transgressions.’ Yes, even if you feel that you have a legitimate cause for complaint, be willing to put up with others and freely forgive them. (Colossians 3:13) When you are hurt, it is natural to think of revenge. But by really forgiving, you stop a vicious cycle that usually ends in disrespectful speech or actions.

Especially when you are disciplined by your parents do you need insight. This quality will help you to accept correction and to realize that to do so is to your advantage. (Compare Psalm 2:10.) Frankly, only a fool “disrespects the discipline of his father.” (Proverbs 15:5) So rather than rebel or sulk when correction is administered, show that you honor your parents by trying to apply it.

Insight will also help you to be sensitive to your parents’ moods and to try to assist them. One youth named Josh explained how he and his brother took their mother’s mood into consideration. “Once my mother came home from work very hassled and tired,” Josh explained. “We were used to this so we​—my brother and I—​had cleaned up the house before she got back. She was delighted.” Do you show similar honor to your parents?

Showing honor also means respecting your parents’ privacy. There are times when your parents need to get away by themselves. They may have important things to discuss that they would rather you not hear. Give them that right. If you find your parents engaged in a serious discussion, why not go to your room or visit a friend? This will show you to be a person having insight.

So look for ways that you can show honor to your parents. Such honor will usually improve your relationship with them. Even if it does not, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are pleasing God. By showing such honor, “it may go well with you and you may endure a long time on the earth.”​—Ephesians 6:3.

[Picture on page 21]

When a parent says something that hurts your feelings, try to avoid disrespectful speech

Twins—How Close Are They?

Twins​—How Close Are They?

In November 1985 Mary suffered a painful attack that prompted her to see a doctor. After several visits and a series of tests, the doctor determined it was her gallbladder.

Approximately three weeks later, Mary’s sister Martha, who then lived some 1,500 miles [2,400 km] away, became seriously ill. She, like her sister, suffered a series of painful attacks. The symptoms were identical. The problem​—her gallbladder.

Jeanette and her sister, Jeanne, always dressed exactly alike. A mutual friend had an idea on how they could double the size of their wardrobe. Since they are the same size, they could each buy their own distinctive outfits and then wear each other’s clothes.

Convinced it was a good idea, they selected a major department store and went their separate ways to shop, agreeing to meet back at a specified time to compare the items they had selected. When they rendezvoused several hours later, to their surprise, both had chosen the identical outfit!

BIZARRE, you say? True, most people will agree that such experiences are certainly rare between family members. However, the individuals named above are not ordinary siblings. They are twins. Research shows that experiences like these occur more frequently among twins, particularly when they are identical. ‘But why?’ you may ask. Why do twins often share traits and characteristics that are not shared by two children born separately in a family? Just how close are they? Let’s find out.

The Making of Twins

It is estimated that there are 50 million pairs of twins around the world. Since 1960, the percentage of multiple births has climbed to its highest level. In the United States alone, it is estimated that one birth in every 50 is a multiple birth.

Twins occur when two fertilized ova, or eggs, instead of one are produced in a woman’s womb. When babies develop from two eggs and two sperm, they are called fraternal twins. They may be no more alike than nontwin babies.

However, when twins originate from a single fertilized egg that has divided shortly after conception, they are called identical. These twins always belong to the same sex and share the same genetic makeup. Identicals may occur one fourth to one third of the time in twin births. Worldwide, identical twins occur approximately once for every 250 to 350 births.

Determining at birth whether twins are fraternal or identical is not as simple as once thought. For years, doctors concluded that a single placenta (afterbirth) for a pair of same-sex twins proved they were identical, while two placentas were proof of their being fraternal. Doctors now realize that it is possible for the placentas of fraternal twins to become fused together as one, while each embryo of an identical twin can have its own placenta, as well as its own water sac and umbilical cord.

Not surprisingly, many twins in years past were misdiagnosed by midwives and doctors. Some were told they were fraternal when they were really identical or that they were identical though actually fraternal.

‘But you can just look at a pair of twins and tell that they are identical​—isn’t that proof enough?’ Not really. While it is true that most identical twins will be look-alikes, this does not prove that they are identical. The term “identical twins” really means that the hereditary factors of the twins are identical, not their appearance. For example, Wade and Wayne are fraternal twins who are so similar in appearance they are often mistaken for identicals. What accounts for this?

In his book Twins and Supertwins, Amram Scheinfeld explains: “Some fraternal twins may have a high degree of resemblance if they have an unusual proportion of matching hereditary factors​—that is, while fraternals . . . on the average have about 50 per cent of their genes in common, some may have many fewer, and look very unalike, and some may have many more, and look sufficiently alike to be mistaken for identical twins.”

Testing for Identicals

How, then, does one know if twins are truly identical? A number of hereditary traits are always alike in identical twins. For example, Scheinfeld notes that “since each special type of blood substance is inherited, all of the blood substances must be exactly the same in identical twins.” When any of these substances are different, “the twins must be fraternal.”

However, in a small percentage of cases, blood tests may not be sufficient to establish twin types. So doctors may test for other substances that, because of heredity, are alike in identicals. Body chemicals like those found in sweat and in saliva secretions are always alike in identical twins. This explains why police dogs are easily confused by the similar body scents of identicals. Usually, the dogs must be given special training to distinguish the two.

Eye color and hair provide additional sources for comparison. In identical twins, heredity also produces fingerprints that are almost exactly alike. These too can be helpful in tests because they are considerably more alike than those of fraternal twins.

Probably the most precise method for identifying twin types, though, involves the skin graft. This test is successful only with identicals. Explaining why, Scheinfeld says: “Since identical twins are completely alike in the hereditary makeup of all the tissues of their bodies and in all hereditary blood and chemical substances, it is possible to take skin or flesh from one and graft it onto or into the other twin, with complete assurance that the graft will ‘take’​—just as if it were from one part to another part of the same body.”

How Close Are They?

But how does all of this explain the strange experiences shared by twins like Jeanette and Jeanne or Martha and Mary? For one thing, we have noted how close identical twins are genetically. To some extent, this genetic bond seems to account for many of the similarities shared by twins, such as in taste and dress.

To illustrate, Dr. Magdalena Krondl, associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, studied the eating habits of both identical and fraternal twins. To determine whether there is a genetic basis for a person’s choice of diet, she selected twins who had lived together as children but who were later separated so that “their own food preferences would emerge.” Her research revealed that “the diets of the identical twins were significantly more alike than the diets of the nonidentical twins.”

This helps us to understand why the doctors told Martha after her sister Mary’s gallbladder attack that she should also expect to have gallbladder problems. She explains: “The doctors said that if my twin sister, Mary, had already experienced problems with her gallbladder, heredity and the similarity of our eating habits made me a likely candidate.”

That Jeanette and Jeanne found their taste in clothing so similar is likewise not surprising. Other identical twins have shared similar experiences. For example, Bruce received several items from his twin brother, Brian, living some 2,500 miles [4,000 km] away. The items had been mailed inside a shoe box. When Bruce opened the wrapping, he noticed that the shoe box resembled the one in his closet, prompting him to make a comparison of the two. Thinking it strange that the boxes were identical, he called his brother to ask about it. As he suspected, they had both purchased shoes that were identical in color, size, and style!

Similarities in intelligence are also common among identicals. A study conducted at the University of Minnesota of more than 350 pairs of twins, many of whom had been separated since birth, showed that genetics seem to play a definite role in both intelligence and personality development. Diane told Seventeen that when she and her twin sister, Karen, graduated from high school, they “had the exact same grade point average, had received the same grades on tests, and, despite sitting on opposite sides of the room, had even missed the same test questions.”

Effects of Environment

Many twin studies only serve to fuel the continuing debate among researchers over what exercises greater influence in the lives of twins​—heredity or environment. Yet, researchers admit that both play some role.

In her book Identical Twins Reared Apart: A Reanalysis, Susan Farber, assistant professor of clinical psychology at New York University, describes the case of Harry and Alfred. These identical twins were so unalike in appearance that blood tests were necessary to prove they were truly identicals. She notes that “Harry was three-and-one-quarter inches [8.3 cm] taller and 62 pounds [28 kg] heavier than Alfred. Alfred, the twin from the poorer environment, suffered from anxiety, fainting spells, and a psychogenic symptom of pain in his heel so severe that it required medical and psychiatric treatment. Harry had no such symptoms.”

After carefully reevaluating combined data from 121 published case studies, Farber concluded that, although the studies revealed “remarkable​—sometimes unnerving—​similarities” among identical twins, often such studies did “not include many of the identical twins who turned out to be most unlike each other.” The reason? As she explains, the identicals usually preferred by researchers “were originally chosen for study just because they were so similar.”

Raising Twins

Whether twins are remarkably alike or totally dissimilar, raising them can pose a unique challenge to parents. Various authorities feel that an important feature of each child’s development is the fostering of his ability to make decisions independently of the other.

The book The Care of Twin Children, published by the Center for the Study of Multiple Gestation, points out that “there are many ways to foster individuality without destroying the special bond of twinship.” The book notes that many parents of twins choose names for their children that are “unlike-sounding” and call “both children by their names more frequently than normal to reinforce their individuality in their own minds.”

Arranging for special time alone on occasion with each twin is recommended, as is taking pictures of each child “separately as well as together.” Rather than parents’ treating twins as a “unit,” the Center reasons that it is better that parents help the children recognize their own individuality and separateness. Each child should be encouraged to pursue his or her own special interests. This will help to create circumstances wherein the twins will be “called on to make independent decisions affecting them personally.”

The Center discourages comparing the performances of each child because “one twin may begin to measure himself against the other, feeling he lacks some quality the other supposedly possesses.” Such unfavorable comparisons could easily incite feelings of jealousy and result in conflicts between the two.

A Unique World

It is not surprising that researchers are fascinated by identical twins. Psychology Today describes them as being “among the most sought-after subjects for psychological and medical research.” Explaining why, David T. Lykken, former president of the Society for Psychophysiological Research, said: “Almost any experiment that one might think of doing with human subjects will be more interesting and yield more valuable results if one does it with twins.”

Yes, the presence of so many similarities within the genetic makeup of identical twins places them in a truly unique world all their own. For many, it is a world filled with much happiness and pleasure. As one twin wrote: “There are two laughs for one joke, two thrills for the same joy. . . . It is a lot of fun to be a twin. . . . It is happiness just to live when one is born a twin.”

[Box/​Pictures on page 24]

Twin Conception

Identical Twins

A single sperm unites with one egg

Egg divides, producing genetically identical twins

Fraternal Twins

Two sperm unite with two eggs

Each becomes a genetically different twin

[Box on page 27]

Why Siamese Twins?

The term “Siamese twins” became popular when the world discovered 19th-century twins Chang and Eng. Born in Siam (now Thailand) in 1811, these twins were joined at the chest by a band of tissue five and a half inches [14 cm] long and seven and a half inches [19 cm] around. They became internationally famous as the “Siamese Twins,” traveling with P. T. Barnum’s circus. Eventually, the twins left the circus, married two sisters from North Carolina, U.S.A., and fathered 22 children between them. They are survived by more than a thousand descendants.

Conjoined, or Siamese, twins occur when a single fertilized egg that begins to divide in the production of identical twins fails to separate completely. Such twins may be physically linked together at any part of the body and will occasionally share one or more vital organs. It is estimated that births of Siamese twins occur approximately once out of every 100,000 births worldwide.

[Picture on page 25]

Identical twins, produced from the same sperm and egg, are always of the same sex. On the other hand, fraternal twins, produced from two sperm and two eggs, may be of different sexes, such as the twins seen here

[Picture on page 26]

One twin is often a mirror image of the other

From Our Readers

From Our Readers

How Did Life on Earth Begin?

I just had to thank you for your excellent article “How Did Life on Earth Begin?” (January 22, 1987) It was marvelously clear, concise, and simple. After reading the article, I no longer have the slightest doubt​—evolution is not a fact. The article answered important questions, such as: How did we get here? Do our lives have meaning? Thank you so much for publishing articles that help us young people to avoid being taken in by this world and its beliefs.

E. A., France

Wisdom Beyond Her Years

I was very encouraged by the article “Wisdom Beyond Her Years.” (October 22, 1987) Although I am the same age as Lisa, as I read the article I wondered if I could express my faith as superbly as she did. I felt that each and every word she spoke showed an overwhelming trust in Jehovah. I want to imitate the faith of that young girl. I am looking forward very much to her resurrection.

…