To strengthen my vocabulary I like to receive the “Word of the Day” from Dictionary.com. Each day a new word that I’ll likely never use arrives in my inbox. Those I find interesting I set aside in a separate folder. I’ve amassed 530 such words so far. Today, I’m adding another one: appetence. According to Dictionary.com, it’s a noun meaning “intense desire; strong natural craving; appetite.”
What a fitting word for today. Thanksgiving is that time when family and friends gather around to feast—to satisfy our appetence for food, football and, increasingly, for fabulous pre-Black Friday deals. It’s also the time when torrents of holiday activity can invade our calendar, leaving us exhausted at its conclusion. As one business leader asked me this past week, “Please pray for me over these next six weeks of craziness.” For him, and for many, Thanksgiving marks the starting line of an endurance race; forty days of guests, shopping, and holiday party ad nauseam. It’s enough to heighten one’s appetence for rest.
If Thanksgiving feels like the starting line of a craziness marathon for you, may I suggest you build your appetence for gratitude. Each day, from now until New Year’s day, write down just one thing that you are thankful for. That simple proactive exercise may not only stem the tide of craziness in your own life but spill over onto others as well. You can start right now, right here, by leaving a comment below. It may just renew your appetence for gratitude, and what a great day to start that on.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” – Col 2:6-7
What are you thankful for?
That is a really good challenge for me. I have been feeling very discouraged lately and I think being more aware of my blessings could really help. It should be really easy too! I have so much to be thankful for!
Thanks Phoebe. There is so much to be thankful for. Perhaps that’s why it’s so hard to do. We’re overwhelmed by grace and then we take it for granted. I hope you have a terrifically grateful Thanksgiving!