What are you grateful for today? In honor of upcoming Thanksgiving, I asked this question on my author page. Reading answers truly warmed my heart and reminded me about many things in my life I’m grateful for. I’m a worrier by nature, so it helps to concentrate on the positive.
This month, I have two new Christian romance releases, on November 15th and November 27th, both in Amazon Kindle Worlds (First Street Church Romances): Love’s Christmas Cheer and Love’s Ransom.
An affluent businessman from Houston in need of help with his sick nephew. A small-town paramedic in need of healing. What ransom will they be willing to pay for their stolen hearts?
In Love’s Ransom, the heroine avoids romantic relationships after her last boyfriend broke up with her because of her health issues. She also doesn’t want to make anyone suffer the way her mother did due to her late father’s illness. As a paramedic, she lives to help others in their time of need, but she finds it difficult to see joy in every moment.
I spent ten years of my life worrying about the health of a person very dear to me, going from hospital to hospital, from a doctor’s appointment to a doctor’s appointment. At some point, paramedics didn’t even ask for the address when I called 911. I guess, they recognized me by voice (or maybe by accent). It was difficult for me to see the rainbow behind the clouds, like in Autumn Macarthur’s great post here on Inspy Romance. Now, when I look back, I remember so many wonderful moments we shared, so many joys, so much love and compassion. I do my best to live life without regrets, but I do wish I’d seen and felt more of those moments and those feelings at the time.
I know it’s only November, but I’m a firm believer that it’s never too early to talk about Christmas. And I believe that not only during Christmas, but all year around, we should be thankful for God’s grace, God’s endless mercy, for salvation.
We were all given such incredible gifts, and every life is truly a miracle. 
Love’s Christmas Cheer: For feuding chefs at a new restaurant, a ruined wedding reception and a failed business are not on the menu. But love and family just might be…
I wish I knew over a decade ago how important it is to be grateful!
What are you thankful for? Is it difficult for you to concentrate on the positive, or does it come naturally? If you could give yourself an advice many years ago, what would it be?
Thank you very much for reading my post, and I look forward to reading your comments!
Alexa Verde writes uplifting, diverse books about faith, love, and hope. She has had 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her series Rios Azules Christmas and Secrets of Rios Azules. Alexa has a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a master's in Russian. She's worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer's hat suits her the best.
Hi Alexa. I am thankful for my two boys and my husband. A dear friend had a miscarriage yesterday, which makes me ever so grateful for my family.
I am naturally positive, it is easy to find things to be thankful for- balances out my husband who struggles sometimes to find the positive!!
Blessings:)
Hi Wemble! Truly, family is such a huge blessing! Lots of cyber hugs for your friend. Praying for her. And you’re so right, it’s easy to find things thankful for. Sometimes I just forget or don’t make enough effort to look for them.
Yes! A thankful heart is a key to success in life. I wish I’d known that when I was a teenager….now I’m trying to help my own teenagers and tweens keep a thankful heart.
Beautifully said! I loved it. It is so important to keep a thankful heart. A person with a thankful heart blesses not only himself or herself but those around. Thank you for commenting!
The more time I spend in His Word, I find that I have a more thankful heart. I normally look at the bright, positive side, but when I don’t my hubby reminds me to keep a thankful heart. I am thankful for so many things. but the main one is that God loves ME!! Next I’m just thankful that I can see, hear, taste, touch. Then I’m thankful for my hubby and for family. If I could give myself advice, it would be to keep my eyes on Jesus, spend time in His Presence every day and throughout the day, because I can trust Him. Completely. Every time.
Hello, Becky! You’ve given such a spiritual and profound message. God loves us, no matter what. And that is a great advice! Also, you’re so right to be grateful that we can see, hear, taste, touch. There are so many people who can’t do what we take for granted every day. And thank you for a great reminder about spending time in the Lord’s presence, giving my life to Him…
It’s important to pause and reflect on the blessings in our lives…thanks, Alexa. I’m grateful for my family and friends. My advice would be to enjoy every moment because it can change in a second. Plus, it’s goes so fast! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Jill! And I wish a wonderful Thanksgiving to you and your family! So true, we need to enjoy every momen. Life truly is very short.
What a timely blog Alexa. I am thankful for family, health, a roof over our heads, food on our table, the beauty and bounty of autumn, and my faith. Life is good and we often take our life and blessings for granted. Best wishes, congratulations on your upcoming releases, and happy writing.
Hello, Remate! Thank you for your kind words and best wishes. Much appreciated! And I couldn’t agree more. We often take life and blessings for granted, and I believe I’m guilty of that. Thank you for commenting!
A great blog post. I am naturally a positive person. Today I am grateful for God’s mercy in allowing another day to worship and praise Him. To spend this gray day with my husband and be there for him. We lost his sister this last week.
Congratulations on the books coming out.
Hello, Lori Smanski! I’m so glad you liked my blog post. I’m very blessed to read all these wonderful comments and recall about so many things to be grateful for. I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. My sincerest condolences to you and your husband.
I am very thankful for anything, especially since losing everything in 1991. I would tell my younger self not to be so serious and shy. I try to be positive as that brings glory to God. We can’t have self pity if we are reaching out to others. Have a blessed and happy day.
Hello, Lucy Reynolds! Thank you for commenting, and I wish you a blessed and happy day, too! I’m learning a lot from the comments today. I really loved how you said that being positive brings glory to God.
I am thankful for so many blessings! As I age, I have more health issues, but am still very blessed. Love your post! Congrats on your new books!! Hope I get to read them!
Thank you so much, Jackie! So glad you enjoyed my post. :) You made my day. One of many things I’m grateful for is wonderful readers like you.
I am so thankful that my husband was given a clean bill of health after a battle with prostate cancer that included sepsis,3 months of radiation 5 days a week and numerous bladder infections!Thank you !❤
So sorry your husband had to go through all this, and all your family suffered through. I praise God your husband got the clean bill of health!
Wonderful post about being thankful. I really try to keep an attitude of thankfulness. I have so much to be thankful for. One of the things are wonderful books from Christian authors that not only entertain but also inspire.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Ann Ellison! So glad you enjoyed the post. And one of the things we’re tremendously grateful are wonderful readers we’re so blessed with!
Congratulations on your upcoming releases! I’m thankful for my family.
Thank you very much, Kimberly Rose Johnson! Exciting–and busy–time for an author!
Congratulations, Alexa, on your soon-to-be-released books! I look forward to reading them.
Today, I’m very thankful that my husband and I were able to go on a much-needed vacation–all by ourselves!–for a week. :)
Hello, Brenda! Thank you so much for your kind words! Super excited! I hope you’ll enjoy the books! And yay on the vacation!!!
Lovely post, Alexa!
Yes, it’s far too easy to focus on the challenges and difficulties of life, and minimise the blessings there too. It’s been that sort of week here, so I am grateful for the reminder you gave me!
:) <3
Thank you so much, Autumn! I’m so sorry to hear about the rough week. Praying for you…
I am thankful for my husband. We have health issues but compared to others in the family,we are well.
Like ,Ann I am thankful for the Christian authors and theirbooms.
Thank you very much for commenting, Linda! You’re a reader an author can only dream of!
Great post.
I am thankful for my husband and that his cancer is in remission, and for our son who has been quite the challenge in his teenage years. Our son had just turned 9 when my husband was diagnosed. I remember finally finding some measure of peace as I trusted God to provide if my husband did not survive (he’s the fun parent).
I am thankful for a new day to try and do better than I did yesterday and grow in my faith.
Thank you very much for your kind words, Julianne! You’ve had many hardships in life, and your attitude is admirable. I praise God that your husband’s cancer is in remission. And I loved what you said, because a new day is truly a previous opportunity to do better than yesterday and grow in faith. Thank you so much for commenting!