ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: For Friday, July 25th, 2025

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, July 25, 2025

For Friday, July 25th, 2025

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FRIDAY, JULY 25TH, 2025

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

In Texas

Sunrise: 6:48 am

Sunset: 8:29
pm

Life is a special occasion

Hallmark

Today is Christmas in July, also known as Christmas in Summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Christmas in Winter in the Southern Hemisphere. It is centered on secular Christmas themed activites and entertainment, including small gatherings, seasonal entertainment and shopping.

In 1935 the National Recreation Association’s journal Recreation described what July was like at a girls camp in Brevard, North Carolina, writing that all mystery and wonder surround this annual event.

The term, if not the concept, was given national attention with the release of the Hollywood movie comedy Christmas in July in 1940, written and directed by Preston Sturges. In the story, a man is fooled into believing he has won $25,000.00 in an advertising slogan contest. He buys presents for family, friends and neighbors, and proposes marriage to his girlfriend.

In 1942, the Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. celebrated Christmas in July with carols and the sermon, Christmas Presents in July. They repeated it in 1943, with a Christmas tree covered with donations. The pastor explained that the special service patterned after a program held each summer at his former church in Philadelphia, when the congregation would present Christmas gifts early to give ample time for their distribution to missions worldwide. It became an annual event, and in 1945, the service began to be broadcast over local radio.

The U.S. Post Office and U.S. Army and Navy officials, in conjunction with the American advertising and greeting card industries threw a Christmas in July luncheon in New York in 1944 to promote and early Christmas mailing campaign for service men overseas during WWII. The luncheon repeated in 1945.

American advertisers began using Christmas in July themes in print for summertime sales in 1950. Television stations may choose to rerun Christmas specials, for example, The Hallmark Channel runs their original Christmas television films in July to coincide with the release of the Keepsake Ornaments in stores, making it a Hallmark holiday.

Every July the home shopping television shopping channel QVC sells Christmas in July, gift ideas. Generally the sale begins on July 1st, and is showcased throughout the day with various Holiday sale programming throughout the month.

Many stores also have Christmas in July sales. This is partly because bargainers sell Christmas goods in July to make room for next year’s inventory.

A summer Christmas celebration is held June 25th annually in Italy since it is 6 months before the next or 6 months after the previous Christmas, depending on how one looks at it.

Truly, there is no need to wait for one specific day to celebrate love, friendship and peace. Every day should be like Christmas.

Celebrate today by sharing your love, friendship and peace with your loved ones and friends.

If you cannot see the bright side polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Midsummer snow, Santa’s warm glow, Christmas in July, a magical show

Author Unknown

We never celebrated Christmas in July until we started camping. The campground we stayed at celebrated it there. Santa wore a Hawaiian shirt and shorts and gave out candy to all the kids. He would ride in a golf cart through the campground as the head of a parade.

We all decorated our campers with Christmas decorations and lights and exchanged small gifts with each other. It was and an exciting and fun time, especially for the kids!

Usually this is the time of year I'd start making my Christmas gifts for family, but due to cost of shipping packages, I’ve decided on Gift Certificates for everyone instead. The pictures today are of Chistmas gifts I’ve made in the past.

Tomorrow we’re going on a day trip to the beach and we’re leaving early in the morning, so I’ll not have a post for you tomorrow, but I’ll let you know how the trip went on Sunday. The beach is my favorite place to be and I’m very excited to go.

Merry Christmas in July everyone!

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Friday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Why wait for December when you can jingle all the way through July?

Author Unknown

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

13,515. for a day to celebrate love, friendship and peace!

13,516. for fun times with the family

13,517. for people to celebrate with

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

Christmas in July: Twice the cheer, half the chill.

Author Unknown

a smile,a word of cheer,

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

3 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...: Celebrate today by sharing your love, friendship and peace with your loved ones and friends.; July 25, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Mevely317 said...: Goodness, this date snuck up on me! Due to Tom's health, we're not having a party like last year, but I love the tradition. Curious, that when I sent out invites several people said they never heard of Christmas in July.
I hope you and your family have a really terrific time at the beach. Stay safe!; July 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Chatty Crone said...: Christmas in July. I am not sure I like it or not. I love Christmas all year long - but I don't want to start it too early. But since it is a tradition, I am going to love it.; July 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM

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