tHere are the things I am so very thankful for this year…in no particular order. As one of my favorite bands, Tesla, wrote once:

It’s not whatcha got, it’s a-what you give.
It ain’t the life you choose, it’s the life you live.
It’s only what you give, only what you give, only what you give,
It’s not whatcha got, a-but the life you live.
It’s the life you live.
—What you give

Or as the ancient Aesop wrote sometime during his life around 600 BC: Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful to be learning how to be a family-centered man, learning how to love my wife and children and to see the beauty of love.

I am thankful to have paid off in full two of my stupid decisions to “give God glory” by making rash financial decisions over the last 20 years.

I am thankful to never have to listen to a personal, lifelong ubf shepherd and never check any decision ever again against a shepherd’s approval.

I am thankful for the leading and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to enlighten me to the amazing ocean of the gospel Jesus Christ preached.

I am thankful to be done with all aspects of UBFism and that I no longer have to live the eternally burdensome ubf lifestyle.

I am thankful I never have to sit through a single boring ubf testimony sharing meeting ever again in my entire life.

I am thankful I never have to listen to another shallow, weak, gospel-less Spirit-less ubf lecture ever again, unless I decide to criticize the lecture.

I am thankful to know that thousands of people have been warned about ubf and will never be recruited by the campus shepherds.

I am thankful none of my children will suffer through an arranged marriage process and never receive any kind of ubf training.

I am thankful for Wikiadmins who banned the ubf web team for ignoring the Wiki rules.

I am thankful for Steven Hassan and the wonderful work of freedom he continues to do around the world.

I am thankful to have written six books and sold or given away over 500 copies.

I am thankful for all the ubfriends commenters and contributors.