What I am thankful for!

On this day of Thanksgiving, I feel it is good to think back over all that I have been blessed with throughout my 20 years of life.

In order to think about what I am thankful for, I must first acknowledge who I am thankful to: God.
God has blessed me in SO many ways as of late, and I give all praise and honor and glory to such a powerful and wonderful Creator. Without His providence in my life, I would be lost in "this world of woe."

So, what AM I thankful for? :

I thank God for... GOD! I mean, seriously folks... Where would I be without His saving grace.... His wondrous mercy... His everlasting love.... or His holiness/justice?? Wallowing in a pit of sin and despair... that's where.... Everyday I thank God for His plan for me. I know there is something big on the horizon that is my life, and I look forward to where God leads me to get to that end. Glory, praise and thanksgiving be to Him!!


I thank God for my family - my mom and my dad - that I have been blessed with one that cares for me, loves me, and takes an interest in my life as a whole. Since elementary school they made sure that one of them accompanied me on field trips, and I have come to look back in thanksgiving on those times. I wouldn't trade them in for anything. Then in middle school they encouraged me in my first years in band, back when it wasn't cool to be a band nerd! Then it all came to a head in high school as they rallied behind my marching band adventures and dreams. They even became presidents of the band association and continued to love me and my passion. College started, and they joined the Parent Advisory Council (which they now are the chairpersons of) and they continue to be involved in my passions and happenings on campus. While there were times it frustrated me to no end that they were always there, I am so glad for it now. God blessed me, allowing me to be born into this family; and I am so thankful for it.


Next in line of life-changing blessings are my friends. God has blessed me since Elementary school years with friends who love me, care for me, challenge me, and goof around with me. People like Dan Michaud (who I met in 3rd grade), to Brad Boone (met in 7th grade science), to Scott Frazier (known since I was 12, but continued to befriend me until college), to Rachel Toney (met in 10th grade, and is like a sister to me), all the way to Allyson Bassett (met freshman year of college, now my gorgeous girlfriend... but more on that later); God has indeed graced my life with a great abundance of love and support from all over the place. These people have definitely shaped who I am, have shared in my sorrows, in my triumphs - and for what I have briefly talked about, and so much more... I am thankful for them.


In the abstract I thank God for my passions. Music, theology, learning, loving.... Music has been a huge part of my life since as far back as I can remember! I have this old memory of my parents being flabbergasted that I was singing to some Christmas song in the back-seat of the car when I hardly knew the meanings of any of the words! Music, as I have told many a soul, was my "anti-drug" in middle and high school. Through music (marching band specifically) I discovered my innate ability to lead. College introduced me to the family called the Choraleers, and my life hasn't been the same since.
Theology... where do I even start? High school probably marked the time when I began to witness to people, and try to show them the truth of the Gospel. My methods haven't changed much since then, but my heart has. To me, the Christian walk revolves around love. And I strive to love people in everyday life. Theology is my passion - it is what keeps me moving forward in life. I see God working through me to raise up a generation of believers that hold fast to the Word and then, through love, bring it to their friends and neighbors!
Learning - hah! - my entire family, practically, is made up of teachers. I had no choice but to love learning! But love it I do, and this passion for learning has brought me to Erskine College where I could dive into classes like Biblical Ethics, Modern Political Philosophy, Logic, etc... It has been a huge growing experience and I thank God's imputation of a passion for learning.
Loving others, as I said before, is my way to evangelizing. I thank God, every night, that He blessed me with this heart for people. However, I am the first to admit that my biggest vice is judgmental attitudes, and I thank God that He continues to love me even though I can't love His children like He wants me to. Love, as the old song goes, "is what keeps us together." Without love, we as humans fall apart. God has blessed me with a big heart, and I thank Him for that!


Work! Yes, work! I thank God that I have held a job since the Sophomore year of high school! Work has broadened my horizons, it has created in me a servant's heart, and has given me more fond memories than I can even recall at once!! CFA brought me a group of friends that became like family (Stephanie Bignault, James Davidson, Derek Overstreet, Elissa Charron, etc...). I go back into that store and am FLOODED with memories of closing shop, of dealing with crazy customers, of ranting about management... man! I thank God for that opportunity I had!
Then to Bonclarken, my summer job for 3 summers! I can't even begin to recall all the crazy stuff that went down (nor could I tell some in good conscience...). That first summer opened my heart (thanks be to God) to the sin of judgment in my life, and I began to deal with it. I learned patience (and still am), I learned time management and developed my servant heart even more!
I thank God for Bonclarken and the years of memories I have accumulated there!!


Laughter! :D Gah! I love laughing!! I love making people laugh ("thanks for the Chacos!")! God has blessed the world with laughter, and I want to just fill people with it! I thank God that He put in my heart a desire to entertain people (many times at the expense of my dignity!) and to love people through making them joyful and happy. Laughter is truly the best medicine - and I thank God for it!! ;)


So... there's this girl... she's gorgeous, and smart, and witty, and funny, and crazy, and patient, and loving, and I could go on... But I'll spare y'all that! :D Her name is Allyson Marie Bassett, and I thank God for His plan, and His putting us together. I never suspected freshman year at Erskine College, that I would end up dating this woman that I have the immense pleasure of dating! This past (little more than a) month has been TOO MUCH FUN! I have been praying for so long for God to help me with this relationship or that relationship... and in His time, He brought me Ally. I am so thankful to be in a relationship with a woman who builds me up spiritually and emotionally; one that challenges me to grow in my walk and in my confidence; one that cares about me, tells me that I'm handsome, and knows how to make me feel like the most important guy in the world. Sometimes, when I just sit and thank about what God has placed in my life, I just smile real big and thank Him for His blessings. If you are reading this and haven't met this girl of mine, then you are just missing out. I am thankful for her, our relationship, and God's plan for us!!


The last thing I am thankful for, in a strange turn around is.... me. It has taken me years to reach this point, but I thank God for me - for who I am (nuts and all!). I can't say that I have overcome my self-confidence issues completely, but I can say that through the work of the Spirit in my life I have grown more in love with who I am in Christ. As Jesus said in the greatest commandment, we are to love our neighbors, AS ourselves. We have to love ourselves to love others! I had been loving others for years in hopes that someone would love me back, but God has cultivated a love for who I am - and I am so thankful for it!! :)


Man, I am sure I am missing something in this list of thankfulness - I guess I could never truly do the LORD justice for all He deserves my thanksgiving and praise, but this is a start! :D

May the LORD keep you, may His face shine upon you, and give you rest.

Never forget what the LORD our God and Father does for us, and give Him thanks in all you do!

Thank you, those who read this, I hope it gave you some more insight into the crazy mind of Pendar. :D


In Christ,
David