Articles

Mar 26 2015

Why Parents Drink?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

Why parents drink

The boss wondered why one of his most dependable and valued employees had not phoned in sick one day. Having an urgent problem with one of the main computers, he dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper. ” Hello ? “

“Is your daddy home?” he asked. ” Yes ,” whispered the small voice. May I talk with him?” The child whispered, ” No .”

Surprised and still wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?” ” Yes .””May I talk with her?” Again the small voice whispered, ” No .”

Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, “Is anybody else there?” ” Yes ,” whispered the child, ” a policeman “.

Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?”

” No, he’s busy “, whispered the child. “Busy doing what?” ” Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman ,” came the whispered answer.

Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, “What is that noise?” “ A helicopter ” answered the whispering voice.

“What is going on there?” demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive. Again, whispering, the child answered, ” The search team just landed a helicopter .”

Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, “What are they searching for? Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle..”ME.”

As the snow ebbs on the plains here in Alberta, and spring is starting to show its colors. I see the trees starting to bud, grass with a tinge of green, and I know the earth is coming alive once again.

The wonder of the seasons, has always thrilled and amazed me. As I eagerly anticipate the flocks of swans, Canadian geese and other familiar birds flying home rose from their distant winter homes in the south. I love this time of year. It give me hope, thankfulness and courage the world is right and God’s big picture sees a much wider view then my own small vision.

Sometimes when there has been discouragement, illness or difficult times the struggles our lives need a new perspective. And spring does that for me.

When I have time to sit quietly and listen, I can hear God whisper his plans for me. But I feel I need to remind God, I’ve made my own plans for the day. Some days I have so many plans and goals I don’t want to have my day interrupted. Have you ever felt like that?

Do I choose my plans which are important to my life and service? Or choose God’s plan for me, stepping out in faith to trust Him. Serving Him is to enjoy the great adventures He has planned for me, and knowing I have obeyed Him gives me great happiness.

Father, I choose your strength, love and promise,

I will not fear as long as you walk with me lighting my way.

I choose to trust you.

Lovingly, Karan

Have a great week, hugs to each of you!

Mar 12 2015

Legacy Remembered

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 6 Comments

Legacy Remembered

I have always loved Genealogy and learning about my ancestors. Following their paths from Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia and beyond and documenting their quests of a better life for their families and freedom to choose. It has always fascinated me; their willingness to sacrifice and endure suffering and hardship in order to reach their goal.

Great-grandfather Christopher emigrated from Norway to the United States in 1900. Arriving at Ellis Island, New York, with experience in ship building he soon found work helping to build the Brooklyn Bridge. However, when great-grandfather heard about free land in the state of Wisconsin, he moved his family west. In a few years, he had saved enough to buy a small farm for his family.

Farming was hard during those years; every acre needed to be cleared of dense forest before he could plant his precious seed. The tree removal was backbreaking, slow and often dangerous. So naturally, when great-grandfather heard about free land on the prairies in Alberta, Canada, he was interested. No more tree removal!

In 1908, he moved his three young sons and wife to Alberta, Canada by train to start a new life. The land was beautiful and rugged but cruel in the winter. Months after arriving in Canada he buried his young wife, who died from Diphtheria. He endured the loss of two more wonderful helpmates, prairie fires, theft and many hardships, yet the one thing that all his children remember most about their father is his great faith and love for God, no matter what happened in his life.

One freezing night the barn burned down, and all the animals and winter supplies were left lying in ashes. As great-grandfather watched the flames die down, his children heard him say, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1: 21b). The stories of great-grandfather’s faithfulness and love for God have been remembered for four generations now. And today, because of his faithfulness, our families are reminded daily of God’s faithfulness too. What a legacy to remember!

“Remembering God’s Faithfulness in the past will give us confidence for the future”

Father, help me to walk faithfully in your ways so that my life will point my family and others to you.

I want to leave a remembered legacy too, that will point my family to God’s Amazing grace, love and forgiveness.

That is my prayer.

Lovingly, Karan

Have a great week, Love to all. Hugs!

Feb 26 2015

The Accidental Motorist

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

I need my Insurance Company quick!

There are two sides to every story when accident-prone drivers fill out insurance claims. The following explanations were taken from actual insurance forms.

“But, officer…”

• Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.
• The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intentions.
• The pedestrian had no idea which way to run, so I ran over him.
• I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way.
• A truck backed through my windshield into my wife’s face.
• A Pedestrian hit me and went under my car.
• The guy was all over the road; I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.
• In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.
• I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.
• I had been driving for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.

• To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front of me, I hit the pedestrian.
• My car was legally parked as it backed into the other car.
• An invisible cat came out of nowhere, struck my car, and vanished.
• I told the police that I was not injured but on removing my hat I found that I had fractured my skull.
• I thought my window was down but I found out that it was up when I put my head through it.
• I saw a slow moving, sad-faced old man as he bounced off the roof of my car.
• The indirect cause of the accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.
• I was thrown from the car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows.
• The telephone pole was approaching. I was attempting to swerve out of its way when it struck the front end of my car.
• I was on the way to the doctor with rear-end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident.
• I was unable to stop in time and my car crashed into the other vehicle. The driver and passengers then left immediately for a vacation with injuries. By: Steven Dohanos ~Toronto Sun

For those who speed on the Highway—-here are a few hymns for you:

• 45 mph…………………….God Will Take Care of You
• 55 mph…………………….Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
• 65 mph…………………….Nearer My God To Thee
• 75 mph…………………….Nearer Still Nearer
• 85 mph……………………..This World is Not My Home
• 95 mph……………………..Lord, I’m Coming Home
• Over 100 mph………………Precious Memories

“Friends are like pillars on the porch: Sometimes they hold you up and sometimes they lean on you.”

It is such a delight and privilege to share each week with you, I call my friends. I thought I would share what is happening in my life this last month. As many of you know I have been struggling with pain after my fall, and the doctors have been trying to find the cause. Last week after reviewing an ultrasound they sent me for a CT scan and found a mass. I will be going for surgery possibly next week. I would ask that you remember me in prayer this month and I will keep you up–to-date.

Even this week God is showing me His love, comfort and how His timing is perfect in all things. In a matter of days I have been able to get an appointment with a specialist and surgeon, which I know is under God’s guidance and control.

I know God’s plans are perfect and with each plan He has a purpose. And when God has a purpose for our lives He gives us promises too.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ERV)

But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.

Lovingly, Karan

Have a great weekend sending love and hugs to you.

Feb 19 2015

Fifty Shades of Brokenness?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 8 Comments

Fifty Shades of Brokenness?

Valentine’s Day is a day set aside for remembering the ones we love, honor and respect. A day of flowers, chocolates, cards and sharing the special joys of serving and putting others in your life first.

This year however, it will be remembered as the opening day of “Fifty Shades of Grey”; a movie and book that glorifies sexual perversion, abuse, pornography and lust. And it’s alright when your consenting adults, no matter what the age.

I’m sure the Valentine’s Day opening date must have been a joke, because nothing about it has anything to do with love, kindness and respect. I am saddened to hear of the huge openings as people rush to see the movie lured by tantalizing advertisements, curiosity or secret interests.

Although I have not seen the movie and have chosen not to read the book, I have read a lot about it from people who have. My dear friend Heather Mertens has written extensively about the perils of the book and movie. At first I was concerned for her and worried that is was the wrong subject choice. But she has kept it up to some peoples’ dismay and I applaud her boldness and faithfulness to sound the alarm.

For years I have traveled and talked with women whose lives have been broken and devastated by some form of perversion, pornography or abuse in their homes. Behind closed doors they silently keep the secret that is slowly destroying their families, home and children’s life. These people live the real heartbreak, lives that this book and film praises and challenges us to accept as normal.

I hear the stories of the brokenness and devastation that continues to affect their lives. There are no Valentine kisses or the joy of knowing you are loved because you are special. There is only the cruel imagination of someone who uses you as an object, instead of valuing and loving you as a precious gift.

Have we become complacent and numb to the world we live in that immorality and evil is now acceptable? Is it easier not to say anything and pretend it’s not happening? Are we to fill our hearts and minds with thoughts and images that deaden our senses and moral integrity?

In Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) it says:

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

I know this is a heavy subject and I wanted to share my heart with you. I finally decided to stand up and say ENOUGH! I’m not going to keep SILENT!

Thank you for sharing your time with me, I love you!

Lovingly, Karan

***Discussion: I do value your opinion, please let me what you think. Please pass along.

I love hearing from you. Hugs

Jan 28 2015

I Assume You Know!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 6 Comments

Can I Assume?

Last week I heard about a traveler who, between flights at an airport, bought a small package of cookies. She then sat down in the busy snack shop to glance over the newspaper. As she read the paper, she became aware of a rustling noise. Peeking above the newsprint, she was shocked to see a well-dressed gentleman sitting across from her, helping himself to her cookies. Half angry and half-embarrassed, she reached over and gently slid the package closer to her as she took one out and began to munch on it.

A minute or so passed before she heard more rustling. The man had gotten another cookie! By now there was only one left in the package. Though flabbergasted, she didn’t want to make a scene so she said nothing. Finally, as if to add insult to injury, the man broke the remaining cookie into two pieces, pushed one piece across the table toward her with a frown, gulped down his half, and left without even saying thank you.

She sat there dumbfounded. Sometime later when her flight was announced, the woman opened her handbag to get her ticket. To her shock, there in her purse was her package of unopened cookies. And somewhere in that same airport was another traveler still trying to figure out how that strange woman could have been so forward and insensitive. Author unknown

Assumptions are shaky foundations to rely on; and circumstances are not always as they appear to others. Difficulties, situations and the events in our lives are not usually what we readily would share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Isn’t it funny how we can get a wrong impression about people or circumstances and assume we know all the facts? I confess I have been guilty of this myself, and embarrassed to find out how wrong I had been.

How many times have I put on a mask to hide from others what is happening in my life? You know that little survival kit, full of special occasion masks we use to get us through a particular crisis.

When I walk out of the house, hear the screen door slam behind me, I can even pretend to be someone else for a time. I could be happy, funny, shy, or confident; or try to become whatever I thought other people wanted me to be. Never allowing others to see the fear and insecurity in my own life.

I could also try to place all my emphasis on outward appearance, material wealth and personal importance too. Or would it still be a mask of a different kind? I had a perfect mask and wanted people to think I had a perfect life too. I would just wear a smile!

I was afraid if they saw the real me, they wouldn’t like or accept me. I am so thankful there is a God who Loves me and likes me just the way he made me. He sees “The good the bad and the ugly” and loves me anyway. Thank goodness.

What a precious and wonderful gift that He has given me. The gift of grace. I don’t have to pretend that life is perfect, and afraid of what others think of me, I am fee to be Me! I know God is enough for any situation that comes my way.

Thank You dear friends for sharing you time with me. I count it a privilege.

Lovingly Karan

Discussion Question: Why do you think we make assumptions about people, I would love to hear what you think. Hugs!

Karan K. Gleddie

Offering Love and Laughter to Women who need Hope