I can't do this anymore

The lamest cry for help ever. Perfectly appropriate for Mary Worth.

Choose carefully the people with whom you share dialogue balloons.

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Gratitude, Part I

Mom, Dad, thank you for not making us go to church. Thank you for not forcing a religion upon us.

Thank you for allowing us to choose our own spiritual paths. Thank you for supporting my journey even though I went down some roads that concerned you.

There are those who would criticize you for not making us go to church but you did the right thing. Some of the nastiest, dishonest, cowardly people I've met have been nice, church-going people. Some of the most ethical, most compassionate, most courageous people I've met never set foot in a church.

Not making us go to church may have protected us from the nasty people with the nice facades. Allowed us to develop the wisdom to see through the facades. It certainly kept us from becoming one of those people.

Yes, I have my moments of nastiness and I allow those moments to come out too often, but there is goodness and integrity at my core. I believe all three of us have that core of goodness and integrity. That did not occur in a vacuum. Despite your faults, you are genuinely good people and you passed that on to us.

You did the right thing regarding religious upbringing.

For that I am grateful.