My main lesson from reading Judith Vorst's "Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day" to my 4-year-old daughter over 30 years ago was that everyone has bad days, even 4-year-olds.

And that a bad day can become a better day.

I hope you are having a good day. If not, I'm sorry.

If you have lost a loved one today, I am truly sorry. But please read on. It might help you get through the day. Try to remember all the good times with your loved one, maybe a time when you both laughed so hard you almost busted a gut. Remember how your loved one helped others, the quiet walks, some kind words, a helping hand, how blessed you are to have loved such a wonderful person. Rejoice about such memories. They will strengthen you for many years to come.

If you have not lost a loved one today, you have one reason to rejoice right there now don't you? Maybe a prayer for those who lost someone today might help us all have a better day.

Things to Be Thankful For

Actually, even on a bad day, finding things to rejoice about is not that difficult. Barbara Ann Kipper made a list of things that made her happy. The list got so long she turned it into a book. You couldn't help but think a person with "14,000 Things to Be Happy About" also has lots to rejoice about.

Maybe you and I should start a list, to make it easier to switch to happy thoughts on bad days. Okay, let's see. Since you're reading this on a computer I bet you have electricity.

Wow, there's something to rejoice about, especially if we can pay the bill for it.

Did you know 1.6 billion people around the globe have no electricity. None.

Which brings me to my first easy way to rejoice. This one will cost you $34.03, but don't worry if you don't have the extra bucks. The second one costs nothing.

The easiest way to rejoice, even on a bad day is to focus on someone else who might be having a worse day than you are.

Easy #1

Mark Brent lives in Houston, Texas, but his heart is in Africa. where he spent 20 years working with oil companies and with the federal government. He was touched by the fact that the only light so many impoverished families had was a crude lantern burning costly kerosene and emitting noxious fumes into their small huts.

Mark has come up with a solar flashlight that stores power by day and provides bright clean light at night. Lots of folks will want to add one to their home emergency kits for power outages.

But here's the deal. Mark's BoGoLight is only available at his website, bogolight.com. And BoGo stands for "Buy One, Give One."

So when you spend $34.03 (includes postage) for a BoGoLight, a poor family in a small hut in Africa gets one free. You probably will save them one-third of the family income. Wouldn't it be great if everything we bought was a BoGo?

Can't spare $34.03. No problem. Maybe you can send a link to this article to someone who can.

Easy #2

Or maybe you can help feed the world hungry by simply clicking your mouse. This is so easy, everyone with a mouse should be clicking every day.

I discovered "The Hunger Site" when I added the video "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to one of my web sites. I can't remember when I have been so touched by a video.

The Hunger Site sells advertising but advertisers don't pay the money to them. Every time someone clicks a link, an advertiser pays for another cup of food sent through missionary and other service agencies to hungry people in impoverished nations.

You can also click for donations to breast cancer, child health, literacy, rain forest, or animal rescue groups. You don't have to donate, just click!

Now, tell me, how great is that?

Hey, let's grab mouses (mice?) and join hearts and just click away every day.

I say it again, Rejoice!

And sincerely, I pray your day gets better.

BoGoLight.com  -  The Hunger Site