ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: For Friday, December 13th, 2024

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

Friday, December 13, 2024

For Friday, December 13th, 2024

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13TH, 2024

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades. May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

Slightly adapted from one of my morning devotionals

8 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

In TEXAS

Sunrise: 7;19 am

Sunset: 5:35
pm

Life is a special
occasion!

Hallmark!

Today is National Cocoa Day which celebrates a delicious cup of hot Cocoa. Cocoa is made from dried, fully fermented seeds of the cocao tree. These seeds are ground to make cocoa powder, which is the main ingredient in hot cocoa that we all know and love. Monkeys were actually the first creatures to discover the cacao plant was edible and tasty Over 1500 years ago, monkeys began to eat the pulp of the plant and spit out the beans. Humans soon caught on, it is thought the first ones grew in South America.

Cocoa is similar to wine, in that its flavor profile differs based on where it is grown. Lucky for us cacao trees are plentiful, it takes 300-600 cocoa beans to make two pounds of chocolate.

Celebrate today and make your favorite type of cocoa to enjoy. For a holiday twist, try adding a candy cane!

If cannot see the bright side,

polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Hot cocoa is truffle in liquid form!

For years I used to buy my hot chocolate in packets that I would empty in a cup, and then pour hot water into it and stir it up. Now I’m getting hot chocolate in k cups and making my hot chocolate with the kuerig coffee maker. It’s delicious ! I do love the flavor of a candy cane melted in the chocolate. Mint chocolate perfection!

I’ve been treating myself often these days and enjoying a cup most every day. I do limit it to one cup though. I’ve also been enjoying creamer in my coffee. DD got some delicious mocha peppermint creamer and I love it. I usually drink it black.

It’s been a little noisy here in the mornings. There are workers out back putting in new drainage pipes in the field behind us. Their heavy machinery keeps going back and forth. Nothing ever stays the same. Improvements must be continually made. One thing for sure. We should be prepared in case of flooding.

I’ve been keeping busy wrapping gifts. They’ll be ready to go in the mail on Monday! DD is taking me to the post office. Then I’ll finish up my Christmas cards and get them in the mail.

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Friday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

I love Hot cocoa from my head to my mistletoes!

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

12,953. for a good cup of Hot Chocolate!

12,954. for my daughter helping me get to the post office

12,955. for improvements to our drainage system

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.

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters and EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Hot cocoa is the ultimate cure for resting Grinch face.

a smile,a word of cheer,

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

4 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...: Celebrate today and make your favorite type of cocoa to enjoy.!; December 13, 2024 at 6:24 AM
Chatty Crone said...: National Cocoa Day - I love hot chocolate - but I don't have much because of the sugar - but I agree with the peppermint and the peppermint cream. Have you ever got hot cocoa at Starbucks - to die for too.; December 13, 2024 at 1:22 PM
Mevely317 said...: I'd no idea that cocoa differs from one region to the next! We still have some of the powdered packets left over from our "Christmas in July" party that Tom's enjoying on these chilly mornings. I don't think he remembers, we still have a little left-over Bailey's Irish Cream to add. Hmmmm.....; December 13, 2024 at 3:00 PM
jack69 said...: I enjoy the history lesson. BUT time has past for me I guess, but there was a time a cup of cocoa was the BEST of treats. As a child it was a SPECIAL breakfast treat by mama!
Thanks for kicking in the memories.
Love you cowgirl, Stay warm..; December 13, 2024 at 8:28 PM

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For Friday, December 13th, 2024

4 comments: