Articles

Dec 04 2014

Have a Happy Thanksgiving America!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 3 Comments

The Thanksgiving Horseback Ride

A blonde decides to learn and try horse back riding unassisted without prior experience or lessons. She mounts the horse with great effort, and the tall, shiny horse springs into motion.

It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the blonde begins to slip from the saddle. Out of shear terror, she grabs for the horse’s mane but cannot seem to get a firm grip. She tries to throw her arms around the horse’s neck, but she slides down the side of the horse anyway.

The horse gallops along, seemingly oblivious to its slipping rider.
Finally, giving up her frail grip, she leaps away from the horse to try and throw herself to safety.

Unfortunately, her foot has become entangled in the stirrup. She is now at the mercy of the horse’s pounding hooves as her head is struck against the ground again and again. As her head is battered against the ground, she is mere moments away from unconsciousness or even death when Frank, the Wal-Mart manager runs out to shut the horse off.

My life speeds along so rapidly, I feel like I am on the highway of life. And when my to-do list hits overflow, I become overwhelmed. At this point, I feel guilty and decide not to look at my list any more. (No, I’m not feeling better yet)

Throwing the to-do list away now becomes a real option. I could start a new list, and forget how far behind I am. just racing to keep up with my to-do-list. At times, everything seems completely out of control, with family, stresses, work, and other people’s expectations.

I want to see the big picture and know success is certain. However, nothing in life has guarantees. When financial prospects are bleak, job markets are uncertain, and health issues persist, it is easy to become overwhelmed with life.

Sometimes, I wish God would send me an e-mail, or memo, as a quick reminder that he is still in control. Why is it so easy to trust God for other people’s needs, but when it comes to our own needs we don’t have much faith? Isn’t God enough to take care of all our needs, big and small?

Psalm 46:1-2 says,”God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. so we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. He is my strength, and light in a troubled world, I will not fear?

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.

Praying you had a wonderful season of Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your time with me today. Sending you much love to you all,

Lovingly, Karan

Discussion Question: What are you most thankful for at this time of the year?

Oct 30 2014

The Hospital Window

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

The Hospital Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man could sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm among flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room

Sep 17 2014

I may Need a Little Help!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

ATTENTION: Male and Female ATM bank procedures

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts. After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE Procedures have been developed.

Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender.

Male procedure:

1. Drive up to the cash machine
2. Put down your car window.
3 Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Drive off.

Female procedures: What is really funny is that most of this part is the Truth, at least for me!

1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine..
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9. Re-insert card the right way.

Sep 10 2014

Through The Looking Glass

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Through the Looking Glass

Early one fall I took a day trip to Calgary, Alberta, to buy spring and summer fashions for my retail business. I brought my teenage daughters along and planned to do some afternoon shopping after my appointment. I wore my navy business suit to make a good impression and for added flair, I wore my three-inch heels. It was important to me to look pulled together so the sales representatives would assume I knew what I was doing.

My teenagers dressed for comfort in jeans and tennis shoes. However, I decided to keep the suit and heels on for shopping, because I did not want to bring an extra set of clothes. The day had been fun but exhausting, and by 5 pm I had burned-out. I had a headache, my feet hurt, and I was hobbling. I was ready to go home, take a hot bath, and go to bed.

I made one last stop at the drugstore on the way out of the mall, and my daughters decided to wait outside for me. I paid for my purchases, and hurried out to meet them. Suddenly and abruptly, I crashed into a sparkling clean glass wall with such force it caused people to stop in their tracks and check out all the commotion near the eighth aisle.

After my perfect face-plant into the glass, I slid to the floor in an ungraceful heap. My shopping bags were in complete disarray, one three-inch heel came off, a button flew off to the great unknown, and my skirt was a little higher than I felt comfortable with.

As I tried to gather my wits and composure, I noticed my two daughters bent over in laughter and I could tell they were pretending not to know me. When they began to walk away from me, I was sure they did not want anyone to know the dressed-up blonde in a heap on the floor was their mother.

Jul 23 2014

The Big Purse Principle

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

The Big Purse Principle

Years ago I remember how intimated I was stepping into the business world. I would always wear a business suit and three-inch heels, hoping to make a good impression. It was important to me to look pulled together so the people I dealt with would assume I knew what I was doing.

Then I attended a Women’s Conference and heard a speaker talk about how others could tell a lot about our personality our purse size. (Which totally blew my whole dress for success theory). This was a little horrifying to me, because I always carried a purse about the size of Texas. As she proceeded with her talk, I learned women who carried small purses are perceived as decisive, powerful, organized, and goal orientated. All the things I wanted to be, and felt I was not.

In that conference I learned big purse people were thought of as fun, artistic, easy-going and their purses were usually mess. (I knew that, my purse carried papers, wrappers, candy, Swiss army knife and a telephone at the bottom I could never find. In fact once something went into that purse, it could be lost forever. I thought my purse was my secret, I wonder if she had peeked.

At that moment I decided to become small purse woman, so people would think I had all the attributes of a responsible businesswoman.

I laugh when I think back to those days when I put so much emphasis on a purse. Even funnier, I bought that small purse.
When I couldn’t get everything into it, I ended up carrying two Safeway bags around

Karan K. Gleddie

Offering Love and Laughter to Women who need Hope

Articles

Have a Happy Thanksgiving America!

The Thanksgiving Horseback Ride

The Hospital Window

Through The Looking Glass

The Big Purse Principle