ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: For Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24th, 2012

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Decide to be happy today, to live with what is yours – your family, your business, your job, your luck. If you can’t have what you like, maybe you can like what you have.

Just for today, be kind, cheerful, agreeable, responsive, caring, and understanding. Be your best, dress your best, talk softly, and look for the bright side of things. Praise people for what they do and do not criticize them for what they cannot do. If someone does something stupid, forgive and forget. After all, it’s just for one day.

Who knows, it might turn out to be a nice day.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

I'm looking out the window
and the day is drab and dreary,
And I'm trying to console myself
by thinking something cheery
I know it's simply horrible
to get in such a slump
And I also know it's up to me
to get across the hump
And I realize I'm selfish
to mention this to you
For, gee, you might be feeling
a little 'low-down' too
but often when I feel like this
I tell myself it's true
That I am not the only one
who feels 'low-down and blue'
And just knowing there are others
who feel the way I do
Renews my sinking spirit
and keeps me smiling through
and know that it's natural
to take a 'spirit-dive'
Provides the spunk and courage
to hang on and survive
And while there are a lot of moods
that we can drive away
by looking on the BRIGHT SIDE
in all we do and say,
There also is a loneliness
that God meant us to feel
But, gee, it sure is mighty hard
to know which one is real
And I'd hate to be a 'sad sack'
who never saw the sun
And just complained that every day
was such a dreary one.
But I know that all the dark days
are just part of God's plan
We should accept them graciously
and do the best we can...
So I'll just keep on trying
for I know it's 'Gospel true'
there never was a cloud so dark
the sun could not shine through!

by Helen Steiner Rice

On the Bright Side Newsletter

I send this little letter out each morning to all my family and friends and even to a few people that I've never met. Many of them send it on to others too. So in order to make it available to more people I post the 'brighter side' of the news here each day in this journal.

The letter began as an effort to keep in touch with my family as they are spread out in all directions. My family, friends and God are the most important things in my life.

You'll find quotes, poems and stories and even a few recipes included in this newsletter. I try to find something new each day to share.

In a world that very often publishes only the dark side of things I felt that others would be encouraged to hear about
'the bright side'.

'On Ya'-ma

Monday, December 24, 2012

For Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24th, 2012

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 24TH, 2012

86 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

1 DAY UNTIL CHRISTMAS !

It's MONDAY

CHRISTMAS EVE

National Egg Nog Day!

National Egg Nog Day comes but once a year. It celebrates a special, traditional holiday drink. It is consumed with or without Rum. The timing couldn't be any better-- the day before Christmas--- Christmas Eve!

Egg Nog is a seasonal holiday drink. It appears just before Thanksgiving, and is enjoyed by many at the Thanksgiving meal. Consumption then takes a break until the December holidays are in full swing. Consumption of egg nog peaks on Christmas Eve. By the New Year, it is no longer available in stores. If you want eggnog after New Year's you will likely have to make it yourself.

Santa's Christmas Wish

It's Christmas Eve once again,
And the world awaits Santa's return,
But as children sleep with happy faces,
Santa's face is full of concern.

For he knows that many believe in him,
Even though they see him not;
Yet they don't believe in the unseen God,
Nor the Son that He begot.

They accept the many gifts from Santa,
As an expression of his love;
But they won't accept The Greatest Gift,
From the loving God above.

The gift of eternal salvation,
Was offered on Christmas Day -
Through the birth of Baby Jesus,
Who is still rejected today!

How sad it is, thought Santa,
As he climbed into his sleigh.
And with tears staining his cheeks,
Santa bowed his head to pray.

Lord Jesus, 'tis not for my glory,
That I return each Christmas Eve.
But to show men, women, and children,
That they don't need to see to believe.

And if they can accept my gifts,
Even though they're undeserving -
I pray they'll learn to accept Your Gift,
Through a clearer understanding.

And Lord, If could have a Christmas wish,
I would ask for it to be --
That on each and every Christmas Eve,
The world would look for Thee, not me!

Author Unknown

Christmas 2011

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Advent Week 4, Part 2 - THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it's not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You.

Today, pay an honest compliment to someone who gets on your last nerve. Sometimes it is those that are hardest to love, that need it most.

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family. I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, through harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust… but giving the gift of love will endure.

Author Unknown

COUNTING MY GIFTS

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts.

104. for special holiday treats like egg nog and cookies

105. for our mailmen bring Christmas cards and gifts right to our door

106. for mantle clock chiming away the hours till Christmas

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU !

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts.
Everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.

David Foster and Linda Thompson Jenner

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

1 comment:

betty said...: Always like to see egg nog in the stores around Thanksgiving; it reminds me the holidays are just around the corner!

I liked the poem based on 1 Corinthians 13; good reminder on how to not forget to love our family this time of year!

Merry Christmas!

betty; December 24, 2012 at 1:48 PM

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Monday, December 24, 2012

For Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24th, 2012

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