ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: For Thursday, April 30th, 2026

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

Thursday, April 30, 2026

For Thursday, April 30th, 2026

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

THURSDAY,APRIL 30TH, 2026

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: 6:50 am

Sunset: 8:08 pm

Life is a special occasion !

Hallmark

Today is a Happy Birthday to my Sunshine Boy!

Happy Birthday ♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you♥ ♥ ♥

May the dear Lord bless you today and always!

Happy Birthday to you♥

Today is also National Raisin Day which celebrates delicious dehydrated grapes that have been around for thousands of years.

They were highly prized by the Ancient Romans, who used this delicious snack to barter. They also awarded them as prizes at sporting events.

Raisens are low in fat and contain important nutrient like iron, copper, calcium, and antioxidants. Raisens first became commercially popular in 1873 when a heat wave destroyed acres of California grape vines. One grower decided to sell the dried grapes and marketed them as a Peruvian delicacy. Today, California produces half of the world’s raised supply.

Celebrate today and snack on a box of raisins.

If you cannot see the bright side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or does it explode?

Langston Hughes

This grandson is another long distance celebration for me. I did get to see him though when I went to Florida in January. As usual I’m behind in mailing birthday cards to my family, but I know he gets this newsletter, so hopefully he’ll know that I’m wishing him a Happy Birthday today!

I’m so proud of him. He has been singing with a worship and praise church group, but now he’s joined a group that is going on a missionary trip to aide the poor in another country. He’ll go this summer and I’ll be praying for his safety on this trip.

His smile has always been what I love about him as it brings a lot of sunshine to my life. Now he’s trying to be a light for others too!

I do enjoy eating raisins for a snack or in my cereal for breakfast and I have made lots of oatmeal raisin cookies too. Now I’m limited on how much of those I can eat but do like them very much.

Raisins are made with nothing but grapes and California sunshine!

I hope you all have a GREAT day! Happy Thursday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Raisins taste like sunshine in every bite !

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

14,254.for my Sunshine Boy, it’s his birthday!

14,255. for delicious and nutritious raisins

14,256. for sunshine on a rainy day!

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

The wrinklier the raisin, the sweeter the fruit.

Alan Tudyk

a smile,a word of cheer,

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought

Matthew 5:5 (MSG)

4 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...: Celebrate today and snack on a box of raisins!; April 30, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Susan Kane said...: I love raisins. they are candy for the soul.; April 30, 2026 at 5:01 PM
ADB said...: A box of raisins is not safe with me ;-)
Hope you're having a great day.; April 30, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Mevely317 said...: Happy Birthday blessings to your Sunshine Boy. Wow, what an appropriate nickname ... his smile looks to light up a room.
I've no raisins in the house ... but they remind me of a cute meme I saw recently: Every box of raisins is a tragic story of grapes that might have been wine.; April 30, 2026 at 6:35 PM

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Thursday, April 30, 2026

For Thursday, April 30th, 2026

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