Joanne Kraft

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By JoanneKraft 8 Comments

A First For Me

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

As a first time mom, there wasn’t anywhere I went without words of been-there-done-that-wisdom showered on me. Grocery stores, the cleaners, sidelines at my kid’s sports events, all became classrooms for colic, ear infections, and potty training lessons. I welcomed their information. Some experiences like “new mommy” are common. That’s a great thing too, because I love to glean from a weathered mom’s harvest of parenting years.

As a new author, sadly, I’m not accosted in public places with nuggets of knowledge. Where are other authors like me who’ve stayed up all night worrying about their first book—their “baby”? Why can’t I find someone at the post office to share fears about the many “firsts” of their publishing dream; first speaking engagement, first book signing, first big conference? Trudging through the land of “What should I do?” is a lonely and scary place. So, you can understand why this morning while speaking on the phone with a secretary at my publishing house—I cried.

“Hi. I’m an author with your publishing house and I need to order books for the MOPS convention in Nashville.”

“Sure thing. I can help you with that.” The voice was kind and comforting. Apparently, she couldn’t hear my knees knocking as I awaited her grand total and broke into a cold sweat.

Lord, how am I going to pay for this?

An hour after our transaction my phone rang again. “Hi, Joanne, this is Teresa again. You know what? I think I can help save you quite a bit of money on your books. If we ship them to…..” Off she went trying to figure out ways for my books to reach their MOPS destination that would save me quite a bit of money, $231.00 to be exact.

The savings was an incredible blessing. But it’s what she said at the end of our conversation that made me weep.

“Joanne, before I let you go, can I just ask you one more thing? Can I pray for you?”

Maybe she had heard my knees knocking earlier!

Teresa didn’t know that I was taking her call from the passenger seat of our car. While my husband drove down the road I was moved to tears as she poured out her heart to the Lord on my behalf. When I got off the phone Paul watched me sniffle and wipe my face, as I quietly thanked God for this precious, precious woman.

Teresa had no idea that she’d been one of my “firsts”—the very first to pray with me from my publishing house. I’m not sure if it’s common for employees from Christian publishing houses to pray with their authors or not, but mine did.

I’m grateful for her words poured out to my God.  I’ll be thanking the very same God for her, and pouring out my words of gratitude into a letter to her boss this evening.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: a first for me, christian family, christian mom, christian parenting, faith, family, joanne kraft, just too busy, prayer

Comments

  1. Mari says

    July 21, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    What a wonderful woman – and what a touching story. It reminds me of how important it is to stop and pray with someone when you get that nudge. I’ve done it when I felt that nudge, but there are other times that I’ve felt awkward and kept quiet, therefore never knowing how that time of prayer may have blessed someone and myself as well. Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
  2. Shannon Dittemore says

    July 21, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    Well, I cried while reading this. Not a first for me, but definitely a first today. You got this, Joanne. You do.

    Reply
  3. RefreshMom says

    July 21, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    So glad we have a God who literally meets our needs right where we are–even in the seat of a car on a cross-country journey!

    Glad He’s providing for you; love hearing about it.

    Blessings on the rest of your trip!

    Mary

    Reply
  4. Lucille Zimmerman says

    July 22, 2011 at 5:58 am

    Hi Joanne, I’m new to you!

    I just met you because we are sisters through the new WordServe site that’s coming out in Aug!

    Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your posts. Your writing is humble, sensitive, and uplifting. Very accessible.

    Hope your time at the MOPS convention is incrible. Blessings.

    Reply
  5. Holl's says

    July 22, 2011 at 10:53 am

    Jo,
    You know I cried too. How perfect is God’s timing in lovin’ on you. You could write a book about writting your book of all the tears, laughs, stressful nights and blessings along the way.
    Your weeping friend, Holl’s

    Reply
  6. Chris Pedersen says

    July 22, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    This is the most precious story, Joanne. God reached down and said, “I’m here with you on this crazy journey, Child.” Bless that woman who listened to the Spirit and followed through.

    Reply
  7. Danielle says

    July 24, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    Wow! I some how found your blog and I am going to be 1 in the 4000 at the MOPS conference. That is some testimony. I look forward to hearing more from you in a couple of weeks!
    ~Danielle

    Reply
    • JoanneKraft says

      July 28, 2011 at 9:07 pm

      Hi Danielle! Make sure you stop by my booth so I can meet you in person!

      Reply

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