Rising Above the Ashes: A Story of Abuse, Motherhood and Triumph - Michelle Maynard

Join me as I sit down with Michelle Maynard, a survivor of relationship abuse and adversity who found hope and healing through faith and creative expression. Michelle shares her journey from pain to purpose, including her struggles as a single mother in college and how God's presence carried her through the darkest times. Now a music teacher and author, Michelle inspires others to find their own strength and resilience through her story. Don't miss this uplifting conversation about the transformative power of faith, music, and determination.

Link to Michelle’s book:

Thriving In This Life: Through Love, Laughter, & Learning

Transcript

Israel Caminero: 0:16

Welcome to Living Testimony: Stories of Faith and Redemption. I'm your host, Israel Caminero, and I hope everyone that's listening is doing blessed and well. Today I have a good friend of mine. Her name is Michelle Maynard, and she is a music teacher at WCA, which is Westside Christian Academy. And she's also the author of a good book that's called Thriving in This Life Through Love, Laughter, and Learning. And you can get that book at Amazon. How are you doing, Michelle?

Michelle Maynard: 0:45

I'm doing well. Thank you. Thank you for having me on your show.

Israel Caminero: 0:48

Would you like to introduce yourself to the audience, please?

Michelle Maynard: 0:50

Sure. My name is Michelle Maynard. I have been married to Mark Maynard for 26 years. We have four adult children. Fun fact three are getting married this summer, May, June, and July. And I am a teacher, like Israel said, at Westside Christian Academy.

Israel Caminero: 1:08

Very talented, this family. They're like the Partridge family. They're very music, musically talented. I mean, you ought to hear them, all of them. Not just one of them, all of them. So she's here to share her testimony and how Christ has worked in her life. And before we get started, I just want to say a quick prayer. And I just want to say, Father God, I thank you for today, Lord. I always thank you, Lord, because today's not tomorrow's not promised. I'm sorry. And I also thank you for Michelle to be here to share her testimony for everyone out there that might need to hear a story like hers, Lord, how God shaped her life and was always there for her, Lord. I thank you for giving her the courage to be here and just share a tidbit of her testimony because in an hour there's only so much you can share, Lord. I appreciate her friendship. I I ask that you bless her and her family for her years to come and in the ventures they're about to go into with their new weddings, her kids getting married, and just her for peace to be in her home in these times. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Michelle Maynard: 2:14

Amen.

Israel Caminero: 2:15

So, Michelle, I've known you for quite a while, and it's funny how we met because your daughter Hannah used to come over to our house and teach Izzy, my son, piano lessons. And I never knew you at that time. But years after that, I say probably about three or four years, I met you at a gym, and I used to talk to you and used to encourage me. And then when I saw you on Facebook, I find out that you're Hannah's mom. So it's funny how God works in these ways, and you've been a great part of our journey now and in our life, and I appreciate that from you. And I just want you to know that I thank you for that and appreciate your whole family for just the little things that you've done for us. But at the same time, I have you here because you have a testimony to share with everyone. And I was wondering if you could just touch base on where it all began, like in your childhood, your struggles, and things to that matter.

Michelle Maynard: 3:20

Yes, I'd love to. So I grew up in a loving family. My mom and dad have been married for 55 plus years. Um, we have three or total of five siblings. Um we grew up in a private Lutheran school, and around the age of probably 13, I think I was going into my freshman year in high school, we attended a word of life passion play. And right before me, watching, you know, Jesus dying on the cross, it was so powerful. And I always believed in God, but I never made it personal until then. And at the end of the passion play, he asked, Has anyone ever accepted the Lord into their heart? And if you have not, please come forward. And I just felt my heart burning within me. And you know, that's when I actually gave my life to the Lord. I didn't go up, but I did it in my seat. And I don't even know if I really told my parents afterwards, but around that time, God was definitely working in our whole family because my parents got saved, my grand and grandpa got saved. I don't know about my siblings, but um that's just when I think my real journey began because again, I think that I always believed in God, but there's definitely a difference between believing in God and surrendering to the Lord. You know, the Bible says even the demons believe in God, but they're not going to heaven. So it was definitely where I first started my Christian journey.

Israel Caminero: 4:44

How old were you?

Michelle Maynard: 4:45

I was going in the uh ninth grade, so I was about 13. Okay. Yeah.

Israel Caminero: 4:49

But your family your family, it wasn't the same day you're talking about as far as when you went up and when they probably around that time.

Michelle Maynard: 4:56

I don't know if it was the same day necessarily, but it was around that time that God was definitely doing a movement. And again, we grew up going to like a Lutheran church every Sunday, so they were religious, but they weren't saved. And so then they sent me in high school and my siblings to a um, it was called Baptist Christian School at the time. Okay. And I'm just so grateful because I know for my dad, he was a factory worker, and it was a big um just sacrifice for him to send all five of us kids to a Christian school. Oh, I bet. But I'm so grateful because I feel like the word of God was really deposited in me during that those years.

Israel Caminero: 5:33

That's so good. I also met your father and uh I was talking to him and letting him know what a great job he did raising you because of your kindness and sweetness, you know, like you've you've been there since day one for us and just poured into us in a way that I can't even explain. So you got saved that day, 13 years old. Was it a good journey throughout that time?

Michelle Maynard: 6:04

It was high school years, I don't think are fun for anyone. So they weren't awful, but they weren't great. Um I just remember every morning doing my hair and putting my makeup on and always having the word of God open, and I would read for you know half hour to an hour every morning faithfully. And then again, during those years, we always had Bible tests, and I'm so glad that that's when I really deposited the Word of God in me. Um, when I was a junior, I was kind of seeing the sky, we were like best friends, and I knew my parents wouldn't agree with him. He was from, you know, a different background. And they were fine if he came over and we hung out, but they thought we were just friends. Then my senior year we were dating without having a label on it just because I knew they would not approve. So this is where I say I I don't know if I fell away, but I definitely was not of a strong Christian as I should have been. Right. So um looking back, I know I disobeyed my parents by going behind their back and not honoring them. But we had I had a month left until graduation, and my parents found out that we were dating. Some of the someone from school told them, My parents took me out of the school and said, You are not going back. Even though I had a month left, I was, you know, I was a cheerleader. I had lots of friends, I was on, you know, scholarship and or marital, and it it was very humbling. And I was standing my ground and saying, No, I'm not gonna say that because I would be lying, so I'm not gonna do that. So two weeks later, I again I had a month left till I graduated. Two weeks later, I turned 18 and I left home because I thought I'll just go up to the school and they'll let me finish. But it was a Christian school, so they're like, No way, if your parents aren't on board, we can't honor this. So I ended up getting my GED, staying with my boyfriend's family friends from their church. Actually, it was his pastor, and got into the school that he was going to, a school in Michigan. Okay. After probably six months, he broke up with me, and it was a very challenging time because I basically followed this kid, felt like I gave up my whole family and everything for him. Right. And then I was living with a family after actually after a year of going to the school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I was not doing well academically because, you know, I was torn up about my family. We weren't really communicating. It was a hard time. My boyfriend, who I thought, oh, he's gonna be the one, but you're so young, you don't know, broke up with me. And I just was not doing well in school. I wouldn't go to a lot of my classes. I long story short, I ended up failing out. So I ended up living with a family who at the time um I was going to this church and I was working, doing secretarial work during the day for them. And then at night I was working at the mall because they had some kind of curtain product at one of those kiosks. Yeah. So this gentleman came up to me and he asked me for my phone number. I said no. And then he would keep coming back up there when I was working. So I finally give gave him my phone number because we had supposedly so much in common. He said, Oh, I graduated from the school that you went to for a year.

Israel Caminero: 9:23

And the Christian school?

Michelle Maynard: 9:25

Yeah, the Christian, the the Grand Rapids School, the one that I went to for college. So he's like, I went there, I graduated from there. And he wasn't a believer, but he's like, I'll come to church with you. So he, our first date, he ended up coming to church with me. I'd been going there for about six months. The family that I was staying with after I got kicked out of school was they were definitely Christians, but I just think they were involved in a church that they didn't realize was not really a true Bible-believing church. So I brought him to service one time, and the pastor prophesied, This is the one. You're gonna marry him. This is the one. And so I was not in good communion with my family, and this was kind of like my savior. Okay, this is what God has for me. And and yes, I still was walking with the Lord, but I wasn't reading like I should have been, and I wasn't living the Christian life, and so um, yes.

Israel Caminero: 10:17

So this whole time you weren't speaking at all to your parents?

Michelle Maynard: 10:21

A little bit, but not much. It was very, it was a very strained relationship because there were just a lot of hurt feelings that I had left. You know, I was, I think to my parents, they're like, Oh, she's the one that's gonna go to college. She's our second out of five kids, and she has her act together, and then I just left home. I'm I'm sure I devastated them. I know I devastated them.

Israel Caminero: 10:39

And this all happened when they found out about your prior boyfriend. Yes, correct. That they wanted to take you out of that school. Yes, exactly.

Michelle Maynard: 10:46

Okay, yeah. And so then again, when I moved up to Michigan, I failed out of the school. I met this guy just at the mall when I was working at the mall. And um, this pastor that the church I was going to prophesied, yes, he's the one. So I was like, This is it. Okay, I'm gonna get my act together. This is great. So we got married after six months, and probably twice before we got married, he definitely had an anger problem. And I remember um he hit me one or two times, and I'm like, Well, that won't happen again, just making excuses for him. Right. And I know my parents were not happy that I was rushing into this. I know they didn't have a good feeling, but I think they were at the point where like, well, we don't want to lose our daughter, we're trying to to heal the relationship. So they came, they supported. Then um, we did not do a honeymoon, but my parents were going to Mexico, I think maybe a month or two after we got married. So we said we'll go with them, we'll use that as part of our honeymoon.

Israel Caminero: 11:41

Okay.

Michelle Maynard: 11:42

So when we got there, um, my dad kind of saw him grabbing my arm a couple of times and just being, which for me that was normal. And I knew the night I married him, I'm like, I made a mistake. Oh my goodness lord, what am I doing? So a couple of times I had to call off work because he had, you know, given me a bloody nose, or I remember one time he shoved his keys up my nose and black eyes. I mean, it was a very abusive relationship. So when we were in Mexico, I think my dad knew I was unhappy and something was wrong. And still, my parent, my relationship with my parents was not great. So I remember sitting by the pool and my dad said to me, if you ever need to come home, you can always come home. And for me, it was just this healing, like comfort, like tarp over me, just like, okay, wow, my dad said this to me. And it was the start definitely of restoration with them. So when we were in Mexico, it got really bad. And when we got back home, I'm like, this, I need I need to leave. And that was during the time when the whole thing with the OJ Simpson case was going on. Okay. And I just thought, I'm gonna end up like his wife. And and as soon as we got home, I remember specifically we were driving down the highway, and he was like, Do you just want to? I'm just gonna kill you, I'm just gonna kill you. And he ended up going off the road like down where the grass is and driving, and I'm like, I'm gonna die. And anyways, so I left him and we hadn't even been together after dating and everything a year. Okay. So it was a very whirlwind, just I think just rebellious on my part, just reacting, just doing whatever by marrying him and and just not thinking straight. Right. So when I came home, I was like, okay, I'm gonna get my life together. I started really seeking the Lord again. And again, I know like if I had died, I would have gone to heaven, but I was still not making good choices.

Israel Caminero: 13:34

Right.

Michelle Maynard: 13:34

So I said, I'm gonna get my act together, I'm gonna go to a Christian college, I'm gonna marry or, you know, find a great guy. And then um, that summer I started working two jobs just to start making money and kind of pay off some of the bills that I had acquired in Michigan. And I remember waking up one morning and I just was throwing up all over and I'm like, what is going on? And it kept happening for a month. And my mom's like, I think you're pregnant. I'm like, no, that could never be. So God had a different plan. And um, I enrolled at Hiram College, and I thought, well, I wanted to be a theater major, but I'm next best thing is music because I've always loved music. So I became a music major and I was going to Hiram to do that. And I think Hannah was a year at the time, no interest in dating again, went through a divorce, and he never has even contacted Hannah. So he he basically was out of the picture. That's another story. Just um he actually was selling drugs out of our home. And right after I left, I guess the FBI was watching her house. So God's timing and his grace and his mercy and his protective covering on me is just unbelievable because I think it was the next day he left and he got put in in prison.

Israel Caminero: 14:50

And as his wife, you could have been an accomplice to that.

Michelle Maynard: 14:53

And I had no clue, and and things started kind of unraveling. Probably a week after I got married. I remember calling. He was supposed to be working at a tire place, and I called, and they're like, There's no person by that name working here. And so it was I was just so naive, and I was very sheltered growing up, always going to a Christian school, and I it just was shocking that somebody could do something like that. And after I left, I found out he had other kids with other people. I mean, it just it was You never knew that? No, I had no idea. Wow, and again, very naive. I was 19 years old and always just kind of was in this Christian bubble. So moving forward, I went to Hiram College. Probably Hannah, like I said, was maybe no, maybe she was like six months old. So I would go to the cafeteria and get dinner and you know, go home at night, just be there during the day, get my studies done. No desire to meet someone else. Maybe two months after I started there, I was in the cafeteria and I would purposely go around I think 6:45, 7 because nobody was in there. And I'm like, this is perfect timing. I can go get my food. I was just really focused on getting my life together together for Hannah and just, you know, doing whatever I needed to do to support her. And so I was just very focused. And all of a sudden I see the football team coming in, and this is a huge cafeteria. And I'm like, okay, you know, nope, literally, there were probably three people in the whole cafeteria, including me. But one by one, they started sitting at the table I was at. I'm like, oh my gosh, this is so awkward. What am I gonna do? I'm like, well, I'm gonna look like a loser if I get up and leave. So I said, I'm just gonna stay here. So suddenly I have all these big, huge football guys, every single seat next to me, in front of me, engulfed or I'm engulfed around them. Right, right. And um the one of the guys across from me says, Is she with you? Because it was so awkward. I was the only girl at this table. And the guy's like, No, she's not with me, but I'm literally sitting right there. I'm like, hello. So the guy who asked, Is she with you? is now my husband. And again, I had no desire to talk to anyone afterwards. He he kind of was trying to talk to me. He's like, Hey, do you know anyone here? I said, No, I just started school here. He's like, Well, you should come to a party. And that was the last thing I wanted to do. I was like, No way, I don't want to get into partying. And then we just happened to start seeing each other on campus and they asked for my phone number. I'm like, no, you know, just if it happens organically, we keep seeing each other, then fine. And again, he was not a Christian. Um, so I knew like the verse, don't be unequally yoked. But again, I was still doing things not the way I should by the word of God and what I should be doing, but God's grace and God's mercy continued following me.

Israel Caminero: 17:38

Now, isn't it funny? You said you were going to the cafeteria when it was like empty because you didn't want to be bothered by people. But it's funny how God just placed all these football players in your life, and it just so happens that one of them is your husband now, which is a great man of God. Yes, like you said, he wasn't a man of God then, and I know him, and he's so wonderful himself. But it's just I just love how God orchestrates these things, you know, without you even knowing. You're like, I want to go in and out, be quiet, and that's it. Right. And then all these jocks football players come and surround you, and boom. Yes, here comes Mark.

Michelle Maynard: 18:14

Yeah. And then he invited me to a party, he kept inviting me. So finally I went to one and he failed to tell me that it was uh a dress-up party. So I get there and I'm the only one not dressed up. I'm like, I'm never going out with this guy again. What a jerk. And it just I really had no desire, but we just kept talking. And he met Hannah and he it didn't shake his world or anything, which was crazy because he was a 20-year-old. Yeah. And he just, I think after a few months of dating, he's like, Well, I know if I'm gonna see you, it's a package deal, and that's just what it is. And he always loved her and accepted her for who she was. So moving forward, um, you know, again, we didn't I didn't make all the right choices because I still wasn't serving God the way I should have been. So we ended up dating for probably two years, and then we ended up getting pregnant with Jacob. He had bought the ring, thankfully, because I probably would have always wondered, right before we found out we had no clue. And I thought my parents were gonna kill me just because of everything. So we ended up getting married about maybe six months later. We both had a year left of school. I thought it was the greatest year ever, but Mark would say it was probably the hardest year ever for him. Really? Yes.

Israel Caminero: 19:37

Why is that?

Michelle Maynard: 19:38

We were in this little apartment at the college. We were the only people who were married and had two kids at college. We had Hannah, who was three, and then we had Jacob, who was just born, and there's all these college kids around us. Okay. And I'm sure that was, you know, challenging. But he has people love always have loved Mark, and so he had a good rapport with the people there. And they basically made an exception for us to live there with two kids being married because they usually don't do that. They usually make you do off-campus um housing, which they didn't even really had. So we stayed at Hiram that last year. Both of us got a teaching degree. He actually was a physics major, and then he ended up going to fifth year for his teaching degree. I always say he he had to be a copycat of me. But um he's I just adore Mark. He's wonderful. He always came to church with us. I again I don't condone being unequally yoked because I wasn't where I should have been in my Christian faith. I think I just thank, I honestly thank the Lord that you know I was sanctified. I was, it's, it's a process for sure. Yeah, for sure. So we um he always went to Parkside Church with me. That's actually where we were members since I was in probably ninth grade when we gave our lives to the Lord. Our whole family started going there. And he said, Yeah, I'll come to church with you every Sunday, even though he was a Catholic. So after we finished our last year of school, we both got jobs at um in the Vermillion local school districts as teachers. He was a science teacher, and I think he taught maybe a couple math classes, and I was the music teacher for three through six. And he hated it, but that year, right before we bought a house, right before we started teaching, he started praying. Actually, no, he didn't start praying, he started listening to Larry Briquette, Money Matters.

Israel Caminero: 21:29

Yeah.

Michelle Maynard: 21:29

And he really just did it. Somebody suggested it to him because he wanted to buy a house and he wanted to be wise with our finances. So after that came on, Tony Evans came on. Okay. And he was delivering pizzas on the side to make extra money, you know, being a teacher, it's can be hard and challenging. So he's like, Who is this crazy loud preacher? And it kind of piqued his curiosity. And I I had been praying for him that he would surrender. And again, he was going to church faithfully with us every Sunday. He would read the Bible to Hannah. And he said, just one night it just clicked. He said he was in his car delivering pizzas and he was listening to Tony Evans, and he said, I just cried out to the Lord and said, I'm tired of trying to do this by rules and regulations. And he said, It just made sense that I cannot do anything. It's it's by you and your power and your spirit. And he said, I just surrendered and I gave my life to the Lord in the car delivering pizzas. I love his testimony. That's powerful. Yeah, it is. So then that kind of started our journey as a Christian couple, which I'm so grateful to the Lord. You know, just you hear of people who never, their husbands never surrender. And by God's mercy, he he surrendered at such a, you know, our kids were such a young age that they really don't know him other than a godly Christian man.

Israel Caminero: 22:47

Right. I said this before, how it's always the woman that usually goes to Christ first, and you know, they struggle sometimes with trying to bring the husband because obviously men are hardheaded. Yeah. But you know, in all honesty, it should be the other way around. You know, it should be the men bringing the women to Christ. But it's always, it seems like 80% of the time, it's always the woman. Yeah. And, you know, churches these days, sometimes I go to churches and it's filled with more women than men. I can't explain it, to be honest with you. I'm guessing it's just men, you know, men's nature to be hard-headed and try to refuse things to that matter. But Mark, like you said, he's a wonderful man. I know him as a friend, and he's just great. You know, he always makes me laugh. Broke my chair. Mark, can you hear that? You broke my chair. I'm just kidding. But yeah, he's he's great. Tony Evans, which is crazy, like you said, he's very outspoken, you know, and it's took this guy for him to just say, Lord, I can't do it without you, which is great. How I always God orchestrates everything.

Michelle Maynard: 24:02

Definitely.

Israel Caminero: 24:03

So you guys were in college, correct? Two kids that had to have been nuts, like you said. Like, you know, most college kids just want to have fun. Yes. And not so much learn, but at the same time learn. But there's a lot of fun parts in college, but you guys were there with two kids.

Michelle Maynard: 24:18

Yes, it was very challenging. I remember um taking the broomstick handle and banging on the ceiling to get people to be quiet above us because they were partying so much, and we're like, we have to have kids, we're trying to like focus. And and Jacob was a handful. We just he'd cried all the time. And pretty much anyone who would take him for a half hour, like, here, just let's study for a little bit. And Mark had to take Hannah to a couple of his classes, or or Jacob, even in like the let up little papoos. The school was so gracious to us. We were very blessed to have that. Yeah. But then um, moving forward, he worked for a year in the vermilion local school districts, and I was there for two and a half years, and he just he just didn't like being a teacher. He didn't like all the meetings and everything else. And um another just honestly miracle is we just started praying. Okay, I remember being in a ladies' Bible study and saying, Pray for my husband. He's not happy at his job. And, you know, we just we have five years of college debt. I don't know what else he would do. And a lady came up to me afterward and she said, Has he ever thought about air traffic control? And I said, No, I've never heard of it before. And so she said, Well, my husband's an air traffic controller, we'd love to talk to you. And then she said something about him going away, and I'm like, No, forget it. I don't even want to know about it. He cannot leave me for three months. Like we never were apart. It I just couldn't even imagine that. And then we were going to a church at the time, and he was in the nursery, just you know, serving, and he was kind of sharing to this gentleman that he was not happy at his job, he doesn't know what he's gonna do. And this guy says, Oh, have you ever thought about air traffic control? I'm an air traffic. Yeah, another one. I'm an air traffic controller. So then I I think it got even brought up even another time, and Mark's like, I think we need to look into this because this seems like it keeps coming up. Right. And um, it's it at that time it was kind of hard to get into. You actually had to complete two classes, you had to have a college degree, then you had to take two online classes, complete those, do well in those, and then you had to get all these recommendations from people who knew you well, like maybe some of his old college professor professors. And he ended up getting in. He, and then there was the pressure. If he didn't get like the highest percentage in his class, he couldn't pick where he wanted to go. So basically, the top couple people, who however well they do, if they have like the highest grade, they get to pick what territory or wherever they want to work in. They can put their top three choices in. And so I'm sure he was feeling the pressure because I was like, I can't move, we can't move when we stay in Ohio. But he he did it, you know, with God's help and memorized everything, and God opened up the door for him to be in Oberlin, Ohio. And just again, that was just a miracle. And he loves his job. He's he's so blessed to be there. And then we the kids actually were starting school, and he approached me about homeschooling. Okay. And I said, No way, we just we just graduate, we're teachers. Teachers don't homeschool, like that's weird. We we put our kids in school, right? You know, and I had stopped teaching just to teach piano lessons to be at home with the kids. And at the time we had three kids, and Hannah was she actually went to open door for two years, and then he said, I just feel like if all our kids go to school, we'll never see them because of my hours. I I work a swing shift and it changes every three months. Okay. And I I kept saying no, and then I just it was the Holy Spirit saying, Okay, you need to like pray about this. Yeah. And I was like, No, if I pray about it, then I might have to do it. I don't want to do it. I don't want the kids home all day. Right, right. But I did, I started praying about it. I got some books out from the library and just really started researching it and diving into it. And I had a my dear friend at the time, she actually was a product of being a homeschooler, and she's like, You can do it, you can do it. And I told Mark, I said, Here, if I homeschool, I need your help on these things and I want to do these things, and he said, sure. And I kind of made it challenging for him, like, Oh, he'll never he'll never agree to this. So he said yes. And the first year was very challenging, but the thing that kept me go moving forward is that I know without a doubt, God called us to do it. And you know, and he never says this life will be easy, right? You know, he gives us things that we're supposed to do, but it's not always gonna be easy, exactly. And so we we homeschooled, and I would never trade those days for anything because they got to be with Mark so much. And Mark, when they were in probably fifth and sixth grade, he started teaching them math and science, and he had, you know, I would say precious times with them, but sometimes they were a little bit elevated voice times with them. I don't know what the kids would say, but he he thankfully he was able to do those classes with him, and I think God used his background as being a teacher to be able to pour into them with math and science. So I'm so grateful that God knew everything that what we needed.

Israel Caminero: 28:54

Well, it has to be hard, you know. It's three of your own children and you're homeschooling them. So of course they're looking at you as a teacher and a parent at the same time. Exactly. You could goof off or whatnot.

Michelle Maynard: 29:05

So But it was just those years were just amazing, and and we had such a good core group of friends to be able to do that with. And then, you know, we would study um like the culture of Mexico, and then we went to Mexico and to be able to do that, it was just such a gift from God. Um, but you know, again, there were so many challenges along the way, and the next, I would say, big obstacle that we had, which I think it was circling around paybacks for when I left at 18. Our son Jacob was kind of getting into trouble around 16. Okay. So, like I said, we had four kids and he's the second oldest. And he, I think, started doing probably like pot and other things at this golf course that he would work at. And we just saw just such a change in his behavior around 16, and we just thought, okay, it's just difficult times. And we kept praying over him and just trying to help him through it. And then at 17, it started getting worse, and he just really like I felt like we had no grip on him whatsoever, it was which was very challenging. And then he actually was we held him back, so he turned 18 in August, which would have been his last year of school. Okay. So at 18, probably a week later, he actually left home. And I just that was probably one of the hardest things in my life. And I remember the day he moved out, I just was devastated. And I went for a run that day, and I was almost to the park, and I just remember hearing the the I think the song actually came on It is Well with my soul. And it just this calmness came over me. And I just remember thinking, okay, Lord, you know, he's not mine, he's yours. And and this is not, I can't like compart compartmentalize it in my brain. Like, I just got fired as his mother and his teacher and his principal because I was in charge of all those things. Right. And Jacob is so smart, like he, oh my goodness, he's so smart. So I knew like he was gonna do something amazing, and he definitely could go to school. And I just didn't know how all that was gonna work out. And um, hopefully he won't kill me. But he started doing some heavy drugs. Okay, and we knew that, and it it just it was just devastating because we thought, is he gonna make it through this time? And um again, I was at the park that one day and that song came on, and I remember thinking about Jesus in the garden right before he was gonna be um, you know, going to the cross. And he was, you know, he just said, Lord, this is not my will, but this is your will be done. And I just remember thinking that, like, Lord, this is not my will that my son leaves. And I'm literally entrusting him's you because I don't know what's gonna happen. I, you know, know he's doing so many things he shouldn't be doing. And he moved down to Miami to be a caddy. He was sharing this apartment with a bunch of druggies. I mean, it was it was this really scary time. Yeah, I bet. And I just didn't know if he was gonna pull through, and I, and salvation-wise, I didn't know where his heart was. So um I just we just kept praying about it. And it was Mark was so supportive and so kind, and out of that birthed actually this book, Thriving in this life through love, laughter, and learning. Because I just learned that like life is so precious, and you just have to be able to laugh at yourself and hold on to the word of God because um, you know, like you said, we're not promised tomorrow, and it was just really scary. Moving forward, you know, we God just I'm honestly not a speaker at all. I'm not an author.

Israel Caminero: 32:37

You're doing just fine.

Michelle Maynard: 32:39

But I in the beginning, the foreword of this book, I put, which I really truly believe, I'm like Aaron. I have no words many times. I stumble over my words, but God gave me all of these words, they just started pouring out of me. And I remember him depositing, like, you're gonna, you're gonna write this book. And it I kind of was like Sarah laughing, like, hot lord, you're so funny. You have such a sense of humor. You know, I can't write anything, like I am not a writer. Yeah. And he just kept saying, No, you're gonna write this book. You're gonna share your family stories of some of the hard times you've been through. And I probably struggled for six months. And even if I wrote this book just for me to heal, I mean, I hope I bless people and I hope I've encouraged people, but honestly, it was almost like a journal for me to heal. Because um, again, the words just kept pouring out, and that's that's the product of it. But then moving forward today, you know, Jacob, you can you can all all these here, all these listeners can pray for Jacob because him and I love his fiance, are adorable, they are amazing, but they're not believers yet. Okay. But he is graduated from Mercy Hearst College, and his fiance has graduated from Mercy Hearst College with their master's degree. And I would have never in a million years dreamed that he could get his act together. But he's he's once he's decided something, he decided right before he went to school, he said, This is the last time I'm doing this drug, I'm done. And he did it. That's awesome. Yeah, and so he's just I just I just love him. He's just a great kid.

Israel Caminero: 34:13

Well, you uh you said about your book, Thriving in This Life through love and laughter and learning, which I have read, and you have definitely blessed me when I read it. Thank you. And like I said, you can find this book and on Amazon, and it's a good read, and I'm sure it'll bless others when they read it. And Jacob grew up in a family that definitely God's been there with them, so no matter what, he's got all these seeds planted.

Michelle Maynard: 34:48

Amen.

Israel Caminero: 34:49

It's God's timing when they're gonna bloom. And he's a wonderful guy, too. I met him. Jacob, if you're listening, may not remember me, but I've met you too. And you know, God has his timing, like you said, it's it's God's timing. But I'm sure things will happen when he wants them to happen.

Michelle Maynard: 35:08

Definitely, yes.

Israel Caminero: 35:09

And I can't wait to hear that testimony. Yes, because I'm sure it's gonna happen.

Michelle Maynard: 35:16

People always say you're gonna add on to the book, adding the testimony of Jacob and Lila.

Israel Caminero: 35:21

But I never knew that part. I'm glad you shared it. And I'm glad that he's not doing that anymore. It takes a lot of strength to just say, Hey, I'm not gonna do this. And he graduated from the college that he graduated from, and he's about to get married. Yep. So it's it's a wonderful time, and we'll just see what the Lord does. Yes. So continuing on with, you know, you Jacob's story.

Michelle Maynard: 35:46

So, yeah, so then we obviously had the three other kids after he left, and you know, after about a year, I would say, for me healing and thank God for my husband and his patience with me and letting me mourn and just working through that time. We didn't have a lot of communication with Jacob, and we just were trying to pour into the other kids. So I we I don't know, we just God's so faithful and we did it. We like, I don't know, the other kids are doing amazing, they're great kids. We love them. I would say now it's very, very challenging because like I shared in the beginning, we have three kids getting married this summer. Um but they're all great kids. We love their significant others. Yeah. Our oldest actually just moved back in with us, and that's definitely been challenging. I know, especially for my husband, just you know, having three adult kids at home and now a granddaughter and just trying to be strong for her. She's going through a divorce, and it's just not you know what she expected or we expected, and so it's hard. But God is just so faithful and looking back on all his mercies and you know, just promises. And I I know probably I think in the last year, maybe six months ago, God I felt it was calling me to study scripture and memorize more, and so I decided to start memorizing the book of Philippians. And it's just been such a blessing to me because I just think like, you know, don't be anxious for anything. And then um, you know, just it's just a gift. Like I just remember thinking, okay, there's there's almost a formula to this. Like, I need to thank God for everything he's given me, and then I need to surrender my request to him, and then just know that he's gonna follow through. And yeah, and he does, he's so faithful.

Israel Caminero: 37:33

And you're in a season that's like you said, I'm sure it's stressful. You have four children, and you have three of them that are having weddings, like all within the same time frame. So it's a lot of planning and a lot of finances, yes, and then there's you know, your your job and Mark's job that's involved, and time with you guys. So I'm sure it's a stressful time to just connect, even.

Michelle Maynard: 38:03

That's for sure.

Israel Caminero: 38:04

So, you know, um you shared that uh you were at the college with the kids and then you had more kids and you moved out and everything like that, and the only struggle for you right now was what you said about Jacob, correct? Which, like I said, that that'll all change. I believe that'll that'll all change. How are how are other things besides you know obviously the wedding planning and everything like that? Is everything good in the Maynard household? Um, I know you guys attend House of Praise. I know you're part of the worship team. I know that your daughters and your other uh son Shoby's part of the worship team, which is I I said it earlier. You guys are like the Partridge family, you know, and Hannah. Hannah has such a beautiful voice. You know, God has things in store for her that I can't even begin to say, like what I see happening in her life, even though she's going through what she's going through right now. But how are things these days for you guys as far as you know, your Christian walk and everything to that matter?

Michelle Maynard: 39:16

It's I mean, I'm not gonna lie, it's challenging. I think this is probably next to Jacob leaving the second hardest thing that we've gone through. My mom had fell over the winter and broke her shoulder and her wrist and her finger on her other hand. So we've, you know, just tried to go visit her as much as we can. She lives about an hour and a half away and, you know, tried to take her meals. And Mark was out fixing some things around the house. And then just balancing life. It's I know it's a season, but I think God also is showing us like um, you know, consider it all joy whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so you may become mature and complete, not lacking anything, and just trying to count it all joy going through this. Like this is a season. And you know, just thinking about Psalms 34, that I sought the Lord and He answered me. And He does. He answers us and He is so faithful and draw near to the God near to God and He will draw near to you. It's such it's a promise. Yeah. And in I know in January it was really when Hannah moved back in. You know, I just felt so bad for her. And just, you know, with her husband's unfaithfulness, and and it it just was challenging. Then going back to work full time and having the three adult kids at the house and you know, trying to do life. Who's cooking? Who's cleaning? Oh, me, I'm doing that right thing. Yeah, exactly. And working. And then, you know, managing a two-year-old and just changing my mindset. You know, I was probably in a funk for like a month and just really, I'm like, okay, Lord, I I know you're near. I might not feel you right now, but I know you're here.

Israel Caminero: 40:50

Yeah.

Michelle Maynard: 40:50

And things are really crazy and out of control, but you're maturing us, you're making us more like you, and that's our desire. And I'm gonna keep seeking you and moving forward. And you know, just I I feel like Mark probably is the one who suffers all the time. He always says I get his his like leftovers, my lot the leftovers from me. And and I think just as a wiping intention, like, okay, this is a season, but I have to make sure that you know God is first and then my husband, and that's hard. And he's that I understand because I know everybody else needs you, especially hand, and the kids right now going through all this, but you know, you definitely have to keep your priorities in check, and it's it's challenging.

Israel Caminero: 41:28

It's very challenging. You know my story. A lot of them, my listeners don't know my story. I haven't shared it because it's not about me right now. I will share it at some point. Some of you might know it. It's very challenging. And you know, you see people every day walking around, smiling, and just being happy. But when you really get to know them, you know that they have problems in their life, right? And it's just God that shines through them to keep them focused on Him and not let these problems just ruin them, you know, ruin their life or or themselves, you know, and just showing grace to everyone that's around them. And it's just crazy because I would always see you guys and like, oh, they're you know, they're a wonderful family. And as we started talking, you started sharing things with me that I I would have never thought was going on. But that's what God does. He gives us struggles so we learn from them and grow from them. And I know you shared a lot of scriptures here, and that was towards the end, that was one of my questions as far as what your favorite scripture is in the Bible, but you've shared quite a few already.

Michelle Maynard: 42:41

And it just depends on the season. Right now, it definitely would be to Philippians, and I just think it was so timely that I, you know, memorized that to, you know, don't be anxious for anything. And it just that's exactly God knew that that season was coming. And and again, I think probably about four weeks ago I had my breakthrough and I'm like, oh my goodness, I feel myself again. And it's okay. Like, I think we always think as Christians, oh, we always have to be happy. And there's a difference between being joyful and happy. And and sometimes life, I mean, the word of God says life is hard. Yeah, but take heart, I've overcome the world. So it just depends on what season you're in. And and I love this about this podcast you're doing because I think it's so important to share our testimonies because you know the Bible says by um we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Amen. That's how we overcome.

Israel Caminero: 43:28

That's right. So and and a lot of people might be going through the same thing. And I'm sure a podcast is not something that's gonna change them, right? But it might plant that seed to where they'll hear it and say, Wow, you know, like I thought I was alone in this. Right, yeah. And there's other people out there that are going through the same thing.

Michelle Maynard: 43:49

Yes, and I think focusing on the positive too is really helped me because you know the verse that says, Don't be anxious about anything, but in prayer petition, present your quest before God, and the peace of God will, you know, come over you. Yes. But I was thinking about like it also says before that, to, you know, basically count your blessings and think about it later on it says think about these things, things that are right, things that are true, things that are admirable. And just in my life, I'm like, wow, I have four amazing kids. And so a lot of times you can think about like, oh, but they do this or they don't clean up or they don't do this. I mean, I my kids, they're great. They want to be with us. How blessed are we that they want to hang out with us? And Jacob like bought property in our development, and I never thought out of all my kids he'd be near us, and they all want to live by us, and we are so blessed. And he's honestly like the rock of our family right now. He's kind of like, let's get together, trying to that's you know, who would have ever thought that? And you know, he's just so positive and uplifting, and and you know, and my husband, he's an amazing man of God, and I adore him, and you know, just thinking about all of our blessings, we are so blessed.

Israel Caminero: 44:54

You guys are the traditional family that people don't do that anymore. Like I see videos of you guys just hanging out, playing games, you know, just having a good time. And I'm just talking not talking about one one of your kids, I'm talking about all of your kids. Your father was even there this past video that it's oh, yeah, that's right. You know, and you guys are all smiling and happy and playing games. That's what families need to be doing these days, and that's what families drifted away from. Yeah, and sometimes, you know, I'm envious of that because we used to do that as kids, get together with our families a lot, and we don't do it at all anymore. Not even on holidays, it happens.

Michelle Maynard: 45:38

Well, growing up, I told him, I said, You're you can have friends, but you're always gonna come back to your siblings. They're always gonna be your best friends, and you're gonna have them forever, whether you like it or not. So you might as well be close with them. And I really just pray that God would keep them close all the days of their lives, and He has so answered that prayer.

Israel Caminero: 45:54

That's so good. So, Michelle, back to the scripture. Sure. You've shared a lot, and you did say that one of your favorites was in Philippians earlier. Is that the scripture that you're gonna say when I ask you? Probably right now, yeah. What your favorite go-key scripture is right now in the season.

Michelle Maynard: 46:13

Yeah, and I think it's so important to hide God's word in your heart so you won't sin against him. I mean, I'm I looking back at my life, I'm a mess apart from Christ. Like it's amazing that God saved me at 13 and just how faithful he is and bringing us through so many things. And I cannot imagine doing life without him. I don't know how people do it because you know, just through our ups and downs, he's looking back. I'm like, you are so faithful, and you answer every prayer. And he's he promises us if you ask for wisdom, he doesn't say, I'll give it to you, he says I'll give it to you generously. And he does, it might not be in our time, but he just he will he gives it to us.

Israel Caminero: 46:48

Exactly. So it's definitely his timing. Yeah, and that's something we'll never understand. Right. You know, there's so many questions that we ask and we get them, and and it's for us to open up our eyes and receive them, like you said, in his timing. Right, not ours.

Michelle Maynard: 47:04

Yes.

Israel Caminero: 47:04

Now we're going to my back to the past section. And what I like doing in my back to the past section is asking if Michelle from today could go back to the past and talk to Michelle, younger Michelle, how would you pour into her or say to her? And I always tell my guests, you probably wouldn't listen, but what would you say to her that you know now that you didn't know then?

Michelle Maynard: 47:37

I was thinking about that because I know you asked that question. And I don't know that I would change anything about my past, even though you know I was would probably wish, like, oh, I wish I'd listen to my parents better, I wish I did this better, I wish I did that. But I think it makes it makes up who I am and part of my testimony, and God can use that and has used that. But I probably would tell myself don't worry so much. Like God has this, he has you in the palm of his hands. And there's so many things that we lose sleep over, we're anxious during the day over. And again, he's he's just his faithfulness just blows me away. Just thinking about my testimony, what I was gonna say today, and it he's got you, he's got this. If you trust in him and surrender to him, it's not gonna be an easy road, but he's there for you and he will answer your prayers.

Israel Caminero: 48:27

Amen. Amen to that. And he does answer prayers, whether you want to believe it or not. Right. So I I want to thank you, Michelle, for being here today and for having me and sharing your story with us and everyone that's listening. And like I said, if you want to find Michelle, you can find her in quite a few places. You can find her at WCA, she's a music teacher there. You can find her at House of Praise, she's in the worship team there. And you could also read her book, which is available at Amazon, and it's called Thriving in This Life Through Love, Laughter, and Learning. And I urge you to go purchase this book and read it or listen to it if it's available on on uh you know the listening platform. Just go buy it. How about that? Just go buy it and show her support because you won't be disappointed. I have the book right here and I will post a link to it on my description when I post her podcast. And before we say goodbye to the listeners today, Michelle, I was wondering if you could just close this out in prayer.

Michelle Maynard: 49:36

Sure. Lord, I just thank you for this time. I just thank you for your faithfulness, your love, your peace that passes all understanding, that protects our hearts and minds. I pray, Father, that you would just use this podcast to encourage people, Lord, to bring people to know you, that you're such a loving and holy and merciful God. We just thank you for this time. We pray that even this weekend people would come to know you through this Easter Sunday. We love you so much. Amen.

Israel Caminero: 50:03

Amen. Amen. And again, thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for being here. I know you just got in from a flight from Florida and you're probably tired. And the last thing you wanted to do was record a podcast. No, it's good. But here you are, because God orchestrated it that way. And I just want to say blessings to you and your family, and to everyone out there that's listening. You can listen to this on every platform that podcasts are available on. And also, I just want you to have a blessed day with your family in Jesus' name. Have a good day.