For Tuesday, April 21st, 2026

 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE 

TUESDAY,APRIL 21ST, 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:   6:59 am

   Sunset:  8:02 

pm

Life is a special occasion !

Hallmark

Today is National Tea Day which celebrates the world’s favorite drink, second only to water, that has been around for a long time.  The holiday was founded in 2015 on the date of April 21st because it was Queen Elizabeth’s birthday, making it a very British celebration.

We have the Chinese to thank for tea, but it was actually a Portuguese woman named Catherine of Graganza who popularized the beverage in England in 1662.  Catherine married King Charles II.  Her dowry included several crates of loose leaf tea. which she drank every day in the U.K.  The royal court soon  adopted the tea drinking process, including aristocrats.

While the goal of this holiday is to inspire the world to drink more tea, we cannot forget the famous British afternoon tea which is both a drink and a meal.  The duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell, introduced the afternoon tea during the late 1840’s out of her hunger pains between the two daily meals at the time.  

Many forms of tea are available around the world.  Grean tea is popular in countries such as China and Japan, where as South Asian countries prepare Chai with spices, boiled in both milk and water. There is even a pink tea known as Kashmiri tea, served in parts of the Himaylan regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. During winter wedding months the perfect choice of the British is usually a variety of black tea with boiling water and a little milk.  

Henry James, author and nominee for a Nobel Prize in literature once said, There really few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.  

Celebrate today and enjoy a cuppa tea! 

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

THOUGHT  FOR TODAY

I can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. 

C.S. Lewis 

Coffee is my preferred drink in the morning, because of the caffeine content, but then I do often switch over to tea by late afternoon.  I like mine without milk and only a little lemon and honey added to it.  Green tea is considered very healthy for us to drink and I do sometimes enjoy that too.

I also like many herbal teas which have no caffeine but provide benefits like camomile tea which helps us to relax.  My cupboard used to have several boxes of different teas to choose from, but now I’m using K cups which does brew tea very  well in the Kuerig coffee maker. I have only a few varieties of them, but am thankful for what I do have.  

On these chilly rainy days, a cup of hot tea with honey is very appreciated.  When it gets hot out, I’ll be switching over to iced tea because it is so very refreshing! 

I hope you all have a TERRIFIC Tuesday! 

COUNTING MY GIFTS

If you are cold, tea will warm you;

if you are two heated, it will cool you;

If you are depressed, it will cheer you;

If you are excited, it will calm you.

William Ewart Gladstone

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

14,239. For a hot cup of tea with honey

14,240. for a FaceTime chat with my sister 

14,241. for much needed rain

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

 Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.

Bill Watterson

a smile,a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma