If you or someone you know has ever gone through a rough time, sometimes nothing seems to help except words from someone who has also been through it. Often, the only way to access a person who has encountered a similar situation is through reading a book. In Jan Eckle’s book, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow, she shares with you her personal pain and triumph in order to help you learn how to overcome your own adversities.

Jan’s story begins at the age of twelve, as she moves from La Paz, Bolivia to the U.S. We enjoy reading the background of her life as we approach the defining moments that led her to write this book. She takes you briefly through her college years, shares how she met her husband, and how she at last fulfilled her dream of becoming a mother.

While Jan was still young in her early 30s, something tragic happened that would change her life forever. She began to lose her eyesight. In the chapter, “Living in Darkness,” she describes the shock she felt when her doctor first told her that she was going to gradually lose all ability to see. At the time, she was the mother of three active boys, and it was terrifying to not be able to see them anymore.

The day came when she realized it was too dangerous for her to drive her own car, and she mourned the loss of independence of being able to drive her sons to their sporting events and activities.

Yet because of her suffering, Jan realized that her physical lack of sight was nothing compared to her spiritual darkness. She shares her amazing testimony in the chapter, “Salvation.” Jan’s vision may have diminished, but her heart began to “see” things she’d never understood before. She writes, “Climbing slowly out of this dark and cold place, I began to walk with Him, warmed by the light of His Word. My heart began to fill with peace, a peace beyond what I could understand.” Her changed heart led her to a lifelong thirst for scripture — and instead of being able to read it, she listened to hours and hours of sermons on the radio.

As a blind person, Jan had to learn how to run her household — she learned to find things and even cook in complete darkness! And she discovered a talent she didn’t know she had: the ability to interpret very quickly between the Spanish and English languages. She’s won many high awards in her career as an interpreter.

Her book gave me details into how a blind person uses a computer. If you have children who are studying blindness in school, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow will give them an in-depth glimpse into the tools of modern technology that enable a handicapped person to live and thrive like anyone else. They may even become interested in reading books out loud to record for the blind.

Beyond the tragedy of losing her sight, Jan continues her story, describing experiences that many of us go through. She and her husband underwent a financial crisis, where it looked like despair was around every corner. Yet her faith led her through, and she gives God the glory for the way things turned out. Another difficult experience was having to move from a place she was comfortable with to a new state, a new neighborhood, a new house. This is difficult for anyone, but especially for Jan, who wasn’t even able to see the house they bought. But she braved this trial once again with peace.

Then another tragedy struck her family on Sept. 7, 2002. Her precious college-age son, Joe, was killed in an accident. Jan’s sorrow over the death of her son and how she overcame this suffering are what led her to write this book. She was completely overwhelmed and had nowhere to turn but to God, the Giver of all Comfort. From the love and healing she received from her Savior, Jan now lives to offer a message of hope to other people who grieve.

I couldn’t put this book down. Jan’s faith inspired mine in so many ways. Her storytelling techniques drew me in completely, and she has the gift of telling truth in love that so many people need to hear. I would give this book to anyone who is going through a difficult transition or loss in life. The author shares how the truths in scripture set her free from a life of feeling sorry for herself. She relies on hope in God to give her an inward joy that is contagious.

I’ve enjoyed getting to know Jan a bit through email, and I somehow felt like God was leading me to connect her with another mom who is an editor of a newspaper and recently lost her 20-year-old son. She and Jan corresponded, and she asked Jan to write an article for her newspaper about the difficulty of getting through the holidays when you’re missing a loved one. I was blessed beyond words when Jan sent the article to me and asked me to “be her eyes” helping her with formatting.

I think of her often and hope many more people will be able to read her life story, full of hope and a deep abiding trust in God. She shares this verse:

Those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
~ Isaiah 40:31 NIV ~

You can learn more about Jan Eckles at her website, which was recently recognized as a top 10 Author’s website by Writer’s Digest Magazine. She also has an author interview in FaithWriters Magazine.

— Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester