ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26TH, 2013
84 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!
Sunrise:7:53 am
Sunset: 5:05 pm
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night, tho' the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gath'ring winter fuel.
Good King Wenceslas is a popular Christmas carol that tells a story of a king braving harsh winter weather to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen, December 26, the day after Christmas. During the journey, his page is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather, but is enabled to continue by following the king's footprints, step for step, through the deep snow. The legend is based on the life of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, a 10th-century Christian prince in a land where many practiced a more ancient religion.
The song was written by John M. Neale, who was most well-known for his adaption of medieval hymns, many of which are no longer sung in most settings today. He also wrote O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Its most basic message is summed up in its final lines:
Ye who now will bless the poor
shall yourselves find blessing.
Prince Charming and our Princess with Cutie Patootie!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.
Luke 14:13-14
The generosity of King Wenceslas reminds me to share what I have. I may not have much but I do try to always share. One of the things that I have an abundance of is family and I try to share my love of them through this newsletter. Family is one of the most basic foundations we have and gratitude, being thankful, is a big part of my faith. I’m thankful for all of them.
So I share what I have - faith, family and friends and a SMILE or two. I don’t do this to brag, but to encourage others to remember what is truly important in our life. My family, myself included, is not perfect. None of us are, but our faith and love keep us together. I’d be the first to admit to falling short of many things. One thing I know though, maybe two... is that as long as I still have it all together, my faith, my family and my friends will remain the important things in my life and I continue to be thankful for them.
May today be a day we can all share what we have and be thankful for it. Let’s all try to help make miracles happen when and where we can, not only during the Christmas Season, but all year long
Hope you have a blessed and bountiful Thursday!
Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.
Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
DS#1 and his wife
COUNTING MY GIFTS
How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!
George Elliston
I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for this past year and have now reached my 1000 gifts. I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting. There is always, always something to be thankful for.
1256. for my large family, what a blessing they all are
1257. for my faith which reminds me always to be thankful
1258. for old friends that have remained so for many years
Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!
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 ALL!
Our little Lad with his big brother our Star and his cousin our Prince Charming
If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.
Bob Hope
DDIL#6 and DDIL#5 with our Cutie Patootie
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
2 comments:
The Feast of St. Stephen... I did not KNOW! Thank you, MA>.. and I see you had a wonderful Christmas!
Always like to look at pictures of your family, Ma :)
I think you summed it up so well what is important in your life, faith, family, and friends. Great list in the right order of priorities too ;)
betty
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