Please extend a warm welcome to author Alyssa Schwarz! I’m on trip to New York with my daughters at the moment. 🙂 Alyssa is graciously filling in for me AND giving away a copy of her new book to one of you. Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win! Happy weekend, Becky
Thanksgiving.
No, I’m not talking about the holiday coming up in a month and a half. I’m talking about the act of giving thanks and how it relates to our daily lives. Don’t get me wrong, I love that we have a holiday focused on remembering what we are thankful for, but why should that only apply to one day out of the year?
A few years ago, I read a book called One Thousand Gifts, and to be honest, it didn’t make much of an impact at the time. Sure, the idea of finding joy in the midst of your everyday life appealed to me, but not enough to actually sit down and write out 1,000 things I was thankful for like the title suggested.
But then I met Grace. Or rather, she found me in the pages of my latest book, Fields of Glass. She was tough, determined, and a real go-getter, but life had beaten her down, and even though she was looking for peace, she’d convinced herself it could only be obtained by signing the next client to impress her bosses.
I immediately knew her name would be Grace. And another thing I knew early on… she’d have a journal of things she was thankful for. Not because she wanted to, but because she needed to.
Like us, Grace needed to remind herself of all the blessings God had already given her (be it small or big). And guess what, the more she looked for those blessings, the more she found!
Since finishing the rough draft of this story, I went back to that book about the thousand gifts and decided to start a list of my own. I’m only a few pages into my brand-new notebook with the prettiest of covers, and I actually think I’m starting to understand this word thanksgiving a little better. Every evening, I start that’s day’s entry with, “Today, I’m thankful for…,” and I’m always surprised that no matter how bad I thought the day was, I’m able to find plenty of things to be thankful for.
Congrats to Beverly Calcote, winner of the copy of Fields of Glass Alyssa offered via this post!
How do you practice intentional thankfulness?
Alyssa is a Colorado native who attended the Colorado School of Mines, got her masters in Geological Engineering, and promptly became a watercolor artist and author (as one does). She loves writing heartfelt romances with happy endings, a bit of mystery, faith, humor, and second chances. Receive a free short story when you sign up for her newsletter HERE!
Becky Wade
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Today, I’m thankful for the opportunity to win your book! Even if I don’t win, I’m thankful that Becky asked you to post so I now know about you. 😉
That means so much! Thank you!
In this day and age, we have much to be thankful for. Hot and cold running water, washer and dryer, indoor plumbing, electricity, my family. Jesus in my heart.
It’s so easy to forget to be thankful for the everyday things like that!
I love this idea of being thankful each day rather than letting the ugliness take over. I’m thankful I have a job where I can minister to children in their everyday lives. I’m thankful for the calling to be a writer where I can weave beauty amongst the difficult circumstances and by writing it, come to understand it better myself. Thank you for the lovely post!
This is such a beautiful list, Rebecca! Glad that God places people and passions on our hearts to minister to.
Hi, Alyssa. The list of things I’m grateful for is never-ending, but Jesus and salvation through Him is always at the top.
I started a gratitude journal a year or so ago and haven’t written in it in a while. Your post reminded me I need to get back to jotting down those daily blessings. Thanks for sharing!
I love that! I’m finding a lot of comfort in keeping a list, so I’m glad to hear others do as well.
Nice to meet you, Alyssa! I don’t know that I am intentionally thankful. I’ve never thought about it that way. But you have definitely got me thinking about it now. Thank you for the encouragement to be thankful! And thanks for doing a giveaway!
Nice to meet you too, Beverly! 🙂
In 2008 through 2013 on my blog, I did Intentional Thanksgiving posts, writing three things that I was thankful for that day. I’ve sporadically done it other times, but during those years it was an act of obedience to list things I was thankful for. Sometimes it was something like “the color pink.” Other times it was more serious, like reaching “18 months cancer free.” I have never read the One Thousand Gifts book, but anything that encourages us to be conscious of the things we are thankful for is a good thing. (Do not enter me in the giveaway since I am one of the authors on this blog.)
Wow, that’s an incredible story Robin! And I’m thankful as well for your continued health. 🙂 I love how many ways we can be thankful from the small to the big.
So happy to meet you. Recently I have been thinking about gratitude. Our times have changed how people view gratitude. But I am very thankful to the Lord for my salvation, and the blessings HE bestows.
Nice to meet you too, Jocelyn! 🙂 There are so many things to be thankful for!
In my prayers I include at least one thing I’m thankful for. When I notice something for which I’m thankful, I shoot up an arrow prayer thanking God for it. Also, frequently I’ll comment to whoever is with me that I’m thankful for something in particular.
I love that! 🙂 And it’s such a blessing to be able to share things like that with others.
Hi Alyssa
I’m thankful for family. I still have my parents who are in their upper 80’s dad hitting 90 this year and still living on their own safely. Also for getting introduced to a new Christian author always glad to add to my list.
That’s wonderful, Kathy! 🙂
Today I’m thankful for safe travel. My daughter and son-in-love just got back from their 3rd anniversary trip. I’m thankful for my family that all love Jesus and worship Him. I’m thankful for friends that are family, retirement, and good health. Guess I need to get a pretty notebook…🥰
Love that list! 🙂 I definitely have a decent collection of notebooks, and they hardly get used because I’m so concerned with choosing the perfect thing to fill each with. Glad I’m finally getting to use one of them, lol.
Thankful that after 2 years of suffering with stomach issues including bleeding ulcers and hernia, after 6 weeks of surgery I am now feeling 100% better and able to eat again. So very grateful for His healing mercies. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy through this giveaway.
That’s amazing!! What a thing to celebrate! 🙂
Thankful for good books that make me think.
Books are amazing! 🙂
Since autumn of 2017 I have recorded over 20,000 gifts in my gratitude journals. It’s such a blessing and helps me remember that God is so good. 🙌 You’re book sounds lovely.
Wow, that is incredible, Bridget!! I’ve got a ways to before I have that many written down, lol. 🙂
Oh, this looks lovely! I try to be intentional in being thankful for the little things, but I’ve been in a rough season which makes it hard to catch them. I need to be more mindful about that.
I get that. It can be difficult sometimes to search for the blessings during difficult seasons. I’ve found even recognizing a song that brings me peace, or a message from a good friend are things to be thankful for. 🙂
I am thankful for my kids and husband every day. Today specifically, I am thankful for the sunshine and a good night’s sleep.
Love it! And the sunshine is pretty great. 🙂
I’m thankful for the enjoyment of reading, and retirement, which allows me to spend more time reading.
🙂 love meeting other book lovers! 🙂
Today I’m thankful for Becky Wade…I am so glad she asked you to be a guest on inspired by life and fiction. I’m always looking for new authors to read and I’m excited to read your book. Becky I hope y’all have a fabulous trip in NYC!! ❤️
Thank you so much, Brooke! 🙂 I’m happy to get to meet you and everyone else here as well!
I’m thankful for my Mom and for my best friend. They are both such a blessing in my life and I’m grateful God blessed me with them.
Friends and family are such a gift! 🙂
Thank you for your great interview. I loved the piece on thankfulness.
I’m so glad to hear that!
I am so thankful for salvation in Jesus. It’s hard to understand all that He’s done for me. I am glad to learn about you as an author. Your name caught my eye as my daughter’s name is Alyssa and my mom’s maiden name is Schwartz. 😊
What a fun coincidence! And yes, it’s impossible to fully understand it all, yet God gives us so many blessings to see His greatness and love.
I am thankful that we have the freedom to declare what we are thankful for!
Agreed!
I am thankful for my husband and two daughters!
🙂
I am thankful for my parents & grandparents : “Train up a child in the way he should go & when he is old he will not depart from it.” – they taught us their faith, by word & by deed, & I will be eternally grateful for that.
That’s so wonderful! 🙂
I am thankful for my salvation and my family and friends! I’ve heard about your books from some ladies I blog with. I’ve been wanting to read your stories for awhile now!
That’s so sweet of you, Kim! And those are all wonderful blessings to be thankful for! 🙂
I don’t think that I do a very good job at being intentionally thankful, but I do try. Right now I’m thankful that we just had a nice vacation and got to see some bears. It sounds like you love a pretty notebook just as much as I do? I appreciate being introduced to you!
Sounds like a fun and exciting vacation if you got to see some bears! And yes, I’m a sucker for a pretty book cover. 🙂
I am thankful for my family. I am thankful that today I was able to spend time with my aunt, uncle , and cousin that I don’t get to see very often.
That’s so nice! It’s such a blessing to spend time with family. 🙂
Like another Kathy who commented, I’m thankful that I still have my parents, who are 89 and 91 now. They’re relatively healthy, still live by themselves, and dad still works in his woodshop. And for being introduced to a new-to-me author; your book sounds great! Thank you for the chance!
Wow, that’s amazing! And so fun that he still can find joy with a hobby like that. 🙂
I’m thankful for my grandpup. He put a smile on my face today when I really needed one.
Dogs are the best! 🙂 My dog, Nala, is great at making me laugh and smile.
Alyssa, thank you for reminder of the book about one thousand gifts. I have that book but never finished but now I will find it and begin reading again.
I’m thankful for family and friends who have prayed for and encouraged me as I’ve been battling health issues.
Looking forward to reading your book,
It’s such a good book! I’d highly recommend finishing it. 🙂 And that sounds like you have a wonderful support group. Praying for healing and peace for you as well!
I’m thankful that next month I’m getting to see a very close friend that lives in Italy and I haven’t seen her since 2014!! I’m so so excited for this encounter!!
How fun!! 🙂
I’m thankful for my family. My daughters’ father, my husband of 45 years passed away 26 months ago. I don’t know what I would have done these months if it wasn’t for my daughters and son in laws. They have done things around my house that my husband usually did. I just appreciate all they do for me.
Brenda, I’m so sorry to hear that. But such a blessing to have a strong family and support group like that.
Hi Alyssa. We have so many things to be thankful for! I am most thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made for me, my family, friends, that I am healthy and safe and that I have the freedom to worship. That’s just the beginning of a very long list!
Your books sound wonderful! Definitely on my TBR list!
Hi Patti! 🙂