I?m often asked, “How do you write? What I mean is?well, being blind.” I welcome the question because it opens the door for me to share my journey.

Losing my sight to an incurable retinal disease initially ushered in feelings of anger, fear, frustration and hopelessness. When I realized I lacked more than just my vision?a relationship with Jesus –then my spiritual eyes opened. I saw a new world, one that centered on Him. My limitations turned to opportunities, and my insecurity to confidence in Him.

My heart beats faster with a desire to communicate what God had done for me. I wanted to show how He turned my pain and darkness to peace and light. I hungered to shout from the mountaintops, “He is real. He is true and incredibly active in each of our lives.”

But, how could I, without sight, write about His faithfulness. “Show me how, Lord,” I prayed on my knees. I asked for His direction, His guidance. Through my physical blindness, I saw God?s hand at work. He provided the means through technology?a computer with a voice synthesizer.

Once I mastered the operation of this tool, my writing began. I spent every spare moment before and after my full-time job as a Spanish court interpreter.
At times, I fought feelings of inadequacy that clouded my enthusiasm. I lacked a writing background or experience. So I sighed with resignation as I vowed to obey God?s command to trust in Him with all my heart. Fueled by this new commitment, renewed confidence filled my heart, and a desire to inspire others danced in my soul.
My fingers jumped on the keyboard, and I stopped only to wipe tears when relating details of my pain. Then I continued to string words describing how God brought victory and triumph when my world tossed violently in the midst of enormous storms: my sudden blindness, the tragic loss of my son, the pain of infidelity and financial devastation.
Knowing what to write about, however, was not enough.

I learned diligence not only in working in my writing craft, but more importantly in seeking God first. I directed my efforts first in spending time in reflection pondering upon His promises.
I saw how each of them came true displaying the radiance of His faithfulness. He opened doors I?d never imagined: my articles published in local, regional and national magazines, six anthology books featured my stories. And Writer?s Digest magazine chose my web site as one of the top web sites in the nation.

His faithfulness continues. My book, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow” reached international levels. And I stood in awe when I received the news that a group of professors in Brazil translated it into Portuguese.
“Everyone in our country needs to be inspired by your book,” they wrote.
When my readers contact me through my web site. I consider it a privilege to minister to them by imparting words of hope and inspiration. I delight with gratitude for what God graced me with. In the darkness of my world, He placed a sparkle of joy that weaves through the words I write.
-Jan lives in Orlando, Fl with the love of her life, Gene. Their sons, Jason, wife Rachel, and middle son Jeff will join them in celebrating Gene and Jan’s 30th anniversary soon. Joe, Their youngest son, enjoys the glory of heaven since 2002.In addition to her full-time job as a Spanish Court Interpreter, Jan is an inspirational speaker, writer and author of “Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life.” (Xulon Press 2004).With gratitude and commitment, she serves as a Sunday school teacher for the ladies. Jan Eckles - www.janeckles.com . Writing and speaking for insight and inspiration. In the midst of life’s storms, find a dose of daily inspiration at :www.janeckles.com/weekly_news.html