Joan Raymond: God, Where is My Christmas Miracle?
Joan shares a poignant story from wondering where God was when she was broke at Christmas time to receiving a Christmas miracle. Enjoy her holiday story of hope!
Episode Discussion Points
Making new traditions that fit your family better (like Thanksgiving breakfast)
Holiday story being broke
Praying to God for help
Miracle that happened
Lessons Learned
Always trust that God is listening—orchestrating miracles even years in advance
He knows our needs and will not leave us or forsake us.
Make or keep mementos to remind you of miracles (or journal about it)
Follow thoughts (inspiration) when we are feeling stuck, need guidance or miracles
Bible Verse
Ps. 91:1-2 "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Need a Christmas Gift?
Get Joan’s book, Fly on the Wall (for 8-12 year olds) about a boy who gets what he wants only to find out it wasn't what he really needed. Find it here on Amazon.
Connect with Joan
Website: https://joanraymondwriting.com/
Blog: http://aheartforwriting.com
#tamarakanderson #storiesofhopeinhardtimes #podcast #hope #God #hardtimes #holidaystory #christmasmiracle #holidays #miracle
Transcription
You can find the transcription of today's episode here:
Joan Raymond 0:03
I mean, literally, we had like 50 bucks left to our name and that we hadn't even bought Christmas presents. We hadn't bought groceries. Things are really bad. And, you know, I'm praying God, hey, we're down here, you know, we need help and nothing nothing, you know. And I mean, I know He was with us, but it was just really hard.
Tamara Anderson 0:29
Welcome to Stories of Hope in Hard Times, the show that explores how people endure and even thrive in difficult times, all with God's help. I'm your host Tamara K Anderson. Join me on a journey to find inspiring stories of hope and wisdom learned in life's hardest moments.
Tamara Anderson 0:54
My guest today is an author, editor and writing coach. She's taught creative writing classes and served as president of her writing club for six years. She's authored four books and helps writers overcome their obstacles and right again, she lives in Bakersfield, California, with her husband, to rescue dogs and to rescue cats. I am pleased to present Joan Raymond. Joan, are you ready to share your holiday story of hope?
Joan Raymond 1:20
I am. Thank you for having me on your show.
Tamara Anderson 1:23
I am so excited to have you here today. And I thought we'd break the ice day by having you share holiday tradition that you do in your family.
Joan Raymond 1:32
Okay, well, we have kind of a kind of an odd one, I guess. Or maybe not odd. But it's we've been doing this for about 20 years. So my kids, their dad lives in a different city. And we were always trying to figure out, how do we all do Thanksgiving together? So this is a Thanksgiving tradition? Because you know, everybody wants to do dinner. And so we started thinking, What about breakfast? What about if we just did this really, and it didn't You didn't even have some years, it's really fancy. But for the most part, it's eggs, bacon hashbrowns, no biscuits, you know, somebody wants to throw something else in their coffee, you know, but it's, it's fairly simple, because it's supposed to be us getting together.
Joan Raymond 2:19
So my kids come from different areas where they live, and we all gather for breakfast, and well, whoever's making breakfast, sometimes my son will get in there and he'll do the hashbrowns or something, or my husband will do something. We have the Macy's Parade going. And then after we eat, we turn off the parade. And we watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, because contrary to popular belief, it's an actual Thanksgiving story. It's the two guys coming home for Thanksgiving. So for us, it's it's been like I said, it's been our tradition for about 20 years. So then that's over noon ish or something. And then we all hug and everybody goes their separate ways. But we've all had family time together, and it's special. And every year even it was like last week, my son asked, So are we still doing Thanksgiving breakfast? And I'm like, You got it, you know. So that's what we look forward to.
Tamara Anderson 3:12
And I think that's neat that you're able to take what could have been a really awkward situation and make a new tradition out of it. Right, right.
Joan Raymond 3:21
And then you know, and then everybody's free to go and do whatever dinner or lunch they had planned. So, you know, it was a way for us to compromise, but have so much fun at the same time. So we've all seen the movie so many times, we can pretty much repeat it. But it's not really the movie. It's the tradition and just being with everybody. Yeah,
Tamara Anderson 3:41
that's really what it's all about, and finding ways for it to work. Right, right. Yeah, absolutely. I love that. You have a special holiday story to share on the podcast today. And I thought I'd allow you to kind of introduce and say where you were at that point in your life, and why this meaningful event has just kind of remained with you and taught you so many important lessons.
Joan Raymond 4:05
Okay. So this happened about 28 years ago, my, my older kids right now are 42 and 40. And my daughter was about 14 at the time, my son was 12. And it was probably a couple of weeks before Christmas. We were in a bad place financially, no money. I mean, literally, we had like 50 bucks left to our name and that we I knew about Christmas presents, we hadn't bought groceries. Things are really bad. And, you know, I'm praying God, hey, we're down here. You know, we need help and nothing nothing, you know, and I mean, I know he was with us, but it was just really hard.
Joan Raymond 4:46
You know, it was it was just hard. And so it was a couple of weeks before Christmas and my daughter you know the 14 year old is like I have to I've been invited to a Christmas thing I supposed to take gift. And I'm like, I don't have money to buy anything. And she goes, but I can't. I can't be the only one not taking a gift. I mean, you know, what are they gonna say? And I'm like, Okay, I will do this hot check. You know, God, forgive me, let's go to the Walmart or somewhere I will write a hot check. It'll go through in a week, I'll deal with it, then at least you won't be shamed in front of your friends.
Joan Raymond 5:23
And I mean, I was willing to do that for her. So she says, Wait a second, I just thought of something. Now, way back 20 something years ago, there was something called shrinky dinks. And they were little plastic. It was pieces of plastic and you would color on them or do something and then you put them in the oven and bake them. And they would shrink down and they made really cute little charms, bracelets and stuff like that. And my daughter says, Hold on, you know, let's let's not go to the store. Let me do shrinky dinks. And I'm like, okay, cool. We'll do that. I have an oven. But I need some foil pants because I can't anytime you when you bake these, you have to bake it on like a foil thing, because then you throw it away because it's plastic and you know, fumes.
Joan Raymond 6:08
And so I'm like, I don't know where we're gonna get these foil pans. And then I remembered I had a bunch of foil pans on top of my refrigerator.
Joan Raymond 6:17
Now, at this point in the story, I need to go back to 1985. So my daughter at this point is five years old. So we're going backwards like seven years, right? Yeah, no, at 9 years are going nine years in the past. My grandmother passes away. And they've gone through all of her stuff. My cousins, my debt, me know all my aunts and everything. They've gone through her stuff. And they're asking me Do you want this? Do you want that? And the one thing that they gave me was these foil metal pans, because my grandma loved to bake. And I'm like, sure I'll take you know, her baking pans.
Joan Raymond 7:01
And it were real pans and foil pans and cupcake thingamajigger years. And I had put those they'd moved with us a couple of times. And they were now on top of my refrigerator. You know, gathering dust. They were in this plastic bag. Okay, so now we're fast forwarding back to when my daughter is 14. And she says, Oh, you know? And I'm like, Yeah, that's right. We've got grandma's pans, I can use that and throw one away, no big deal.
Joan Raymond 7:28
So I get the package down from the refrigerator, top of the refrigerator, and I open it up. And when I open it up, something falls out. And I still have it to this day. And for those of you that cannot see this, it is an old yellowed very well, you know, an old, it's a Social Security envelope. It's the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of government finance operations, just disbursement. And it's an envelope with the number 182.80 written on it. And I'm like, it's very heavy. And I opened it up. And inside is $182. I don't know what happened to the 80 cents. But there's $182. And the only thing I can figure out is this with my grandmother's Social Security check that she cashed it. She stuck the money in the envelope in those foil pans. I have no idea how old that is. But all I know is I'd had it up there for all for nine years. And then that was the night we decided to open it.
Joan Raymond 8:44
And I sat there and when I opened it. I sobbed. I just started bawling. And I mean I'm crying and the family's like what what did you hurt yourself or something? And I'm like, Grandma, grandma God. I mean, you know, I don't know. And the first here's the first thing that went through my mind was I had to call my dad, I've got grandma's money. I've got to give it back to the family because this isn't mine. This is grandma's money. And maybe they wanted to do something with it. So I call my dad I'm bawling my eyes out. And I'm like, Dad, I just found $182 of Grandma's What do I do with it? And he goes, she wanted you to have it, it's yours. And so we're all losing it big time.
Joan Raymond 9:31
And it's like it hits me it's God. It hits me that God was saying, you know, you didn't go to the store and write a hot check. You trusted me to do this. And, you know, by this sequence of events that went that started way back I have no idea when I mean it was at least 10-15 years probably previous to this that I've blessed you And I mean, blessed us in 180. I mean, $182 for a family that has nothing was like Christmas. But I mean, it was like, Oh my gosh, we can buy food. We can pay the electricity bill. And we I just and so even though this happened, like 28 years ago, I've kept this envelope in my in one of my Bibles, I always keep it in the Bible, it's closest to my bed. Because when I opened my Bible, I remember God's provision at a time where I had literally given up hope, I mean, I, I was hopeless, and willing to do what it took to help my daughter. But God hadn't forgot about us. You know, it was his timing. And it was, it was such one of those God moments, it was like, Okay, you're showing off, you know,
Tamara Anderson 10:53
We're gonna take a quick break. But when we get back, we'll have more lessons, tips and things you can apply to your life. Stay tuned.
Tamara Anderson 11:03
Hey my friends, are you looking for a meaningful Christmas gift this year? If so, you need look no further, I have a fantastic, sweet short story. I am so excited to share with you my new booklet it's called A Broken Down Holiday. This is the story of a widowed young mother trying to travel home for the holidays, soon after her husband dies, and being stranded in the middle of nowhere. And some of the hard things that she experiences and some of the miracles that you wouldn't think are miracles that she had happened, that it is based on a true story that happened to my mother in law. It's great for those friends that you're just like, what do I get them something simple, that's under five bucks to great stocking stuffer. So if you want to share this message of hope with your friends or family members, check it out a broken down holiday on Tamara K Anderson.com.
Joan Raymond 12:05
If I didn't trust you before, and and like I said, I have gone back to this envelope several times when things have been really, really, really bad. And it's like, Okay, God, you did it once. I know you're gonna do it again. I know, you're not going to just leave us, you know. So. Wow. Anyway,
Tamara Anderson 12:21
I love the lessons that you pulled out of that, that God is orchestrating ways to save us years before we need it. You know, I love that idea. And that he notices us and our need. And I think one of the other things that I love, and I'm kind of taking away from your story is that it's good to have a reminder of those miracles, like you kept that envelope, you know what I mean? And whether you write it in your journal or or make a little note or, or keep an envelope, that it's good to remember those things, especially when we come upon hard times again, because they're that physical reminder that pay. You got me through that time. And you can get me through this time. You know, it's that reminder,
Joan Raymond 13:11
because miracles sometimes are. They're not tangible. I mean, this was definitely a tangible one. Yeah. But and then I have a tangible reminder that God still does miracles. Yeah, you know,
Tamara Anderson 13:24
I love that so much. Wow. Now you have a Bible verse that kind of goes along with that, that I think would be awesome to share in this holiday season.
Joan Raymond 13:33
Yeah, one of my favorite Bible verses and I'm going to read it because if I try to say it by memory, I will mess it up. But what am I favorite? Well, one of my favorite songs is Psalm 91. I love the entire Psalm. But I love Psalm 91, verse one, those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. And then part of then I'll just say, part of too, he alone is my refuge, my place of safety. He is my God, and I trust him. And that just, it just helps me. It helps me when times are tough, and when things look bleak, and I start losing hope again.
Tamara Anderson 14:13
Because we all have those moments, and sometimes they come at Christmas, right? They come in the holiday season when we're supposed to be remembering him. And then we don't. Or we try to and we're like, dear God saved me.
Joan Raymond 14:27
At Christmas, at Christmas, it's really hard because there's such an expectation to give gifts to other people, and, you know, be happy and everything else when if you're going through a rough time. I mean, we've had more rough times at Christmas, and a couple years ago, we all decided, hey, let's not give gifts anymore. You know, let's just take that pressure off if you want to do something and make something and it took a lot of pressure off because now we gather and we just we hang out. I mean the kids get gifts. Yes. But you know as adults, you know, yeah. good with that?
Tamara Anderson 15:01
Well, you know, I'm thinking also back to your story about even your daughter's train of thought and how sometimes God gives us the answers by guiding our thoughts to do something instead, you know, well, this isn't a solution that's going to work. And then all of a sudden, you think, Oh, the shrinky dinks. You know what I mean? And so sometimes when we're in a pickle, God inspires us to know what the best thing is to do. And it's just those little thoughts that pop into our head, you know, and and it's always good to follow those just like the thought that then popped into your head. Look up on the fridge.
Joan Raymond 15:37
Yeah, it was definitely it was definitely God coincidences the whole way. I mean, it wasn't coincidence. It was, it was truly God, you know, putting, but you know, the spirit was leading us to do this. And then this and each step of the way, it was just a gentle, a gentle nudge, like, hey, you know, let's do this. And let's do this. And, yeah, but then the shock, I just have to say the shock was so intense that I still remember that moment when I'm like, Okay, I give up. You're good. You're good.
Tamara Anderson 16:12
You're really good, right?
Joan Raymond 16:15
Yeah, exactly. Wow,
Tamara Anderson 16:17
that it's such a beautiful and miraculous story. So thank you for being willing to share that. And as we come up to Christmas, I know you're a writer, would you mind sharing with us about maybe one of your books that might make a good Christmas gift if you're looking for summer?
Joan Raymond 16:32
I write in several genres. I write cozy mysteries. I work right women's fictions, but I do write middle grade adventure stories. And this is one book right here. It's called fly on the wall. So it's for kids, eight to 12 years old. It's a sweet story. I'll read you the back of it is yes, please do. It's metamorphosis. Book one. Actually, Book Two has been written it's coming out next year, so If only he'd known that getting his wish would turn his world upside down.
Joan Raymond 17:02
Alex wants nothing more than to eavesdrop on his parents as they make plans to celebrate his 11th birthday. But when a freak accident turns him into a fly, he discovers the only one who can help him as the family dog meatball. As fly Alex hatches a plan to make things right disaster strikes. Now he must overcome the next to impossible challenges as well as a repulsive attraction to rotten food and transform it to a human again before his short fly life runs out. fly on the wall is a page turning an adventure story filled with humor, heart hope and a touch of magic for children eight to 12 and reluctant readers.
Tamara Anderson 17:41
I love that.
Joan Raymond 17:45
There's a picture I'm showing the picture of the cover and meatball is a huge. He's a shaggy dog, Shaggy sheepdog, and he plays a huge part in this story,
Tamara Anderson 17:58
so that's fine. Oh my goodness. Now where can we buy this book? And where can we connect with you?
Joan Raymond 18:05
So to connect with me, Joan Raymondwriting.com is my website and on that you can find my books you can find information about my writer coaching but my my books are fly the wall especially is on Amazon. And you have to put fly on the wall with my let my name Joan Raymond, because there are other books with the name fly on the wall. But, but my book, you can get it on Amazon. You can also get it at your indie bookstore. Because I haven't listed I haven't through another distributor that distributes to indie bookstores. So those people that are a little bit that prefer not to shop on Amazon, they can get it through an indie bookstore, Barnes and Noble. It's available all those places too.
Tamara Anderson 18:47
Wonderful. Well, Joan, thank you so much for coming on today and for not only sharing your miraculous story and giving us hope that when those hard times come that God is aware of us and sees us but also sharing your stories because stories have a way of of giving us hope in in unexpected times, right? And we you can even do that with kids right through the through the younger writing. So thank you so much for coming on today and sharing your story of hope.
Joan Raymond 19:20
Thank you so much for having me.
Tamara Anderson 19:21
Hey, thanks so much for listening to today's show. If you like what you heard, subscribe so you can get your weekly dose of powerful stories of hope. I know there are many of you out there who are going through a hard time and I hope you found useful things that you can apply to your own life in today's podcast. If you'd like to access the show notes of today's show, please visit my website stories of hope podcast.com. There you will find a summary of today's show, the transcript and one of my favorite takeaways. You know if someone kept coming to mind during today's episode Perhaps that means that you should share this episode with them. Maybe there was a story shared or quote, or a scripture verse that they really, really need to hear. So go ahead and share this podcast. May God bless you, especially if you are struggling with hope to carry on and have the strength to keep going. When things get tough. Remember to walk with Christ and He will help you bear the burden. And above all else, remember, God loves you.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai