In the early winter of 2000, Jan's daughter Sarah was dealing with numerous health issues and learning to navigate the rigors of campus life. While on Christmas break, Sarah courageously shared the words, "Mom, I feel ugly." Jan's heart was broken.
Jan's greatest desire was to give her daughter hope and to inspire self-confidence. When Sarah returned to campus Jan sat at her computer to write an email. She whispered a prayer that would change her life forever, "Holy Spirit, tell me what to say so she will know her worth."
Jan's prayer was answered in a most unexpected and immediate way. As she wrote about family news, Jan was inspired to share a few simple words of encouragement in the form of a saying. "With every road you walk your feet get wiser." was her first. The next week Jan prayed, listened, and wrote, "Every day is trash day somewhere. Leave your garbage by the curb. Start over - free of all the useless stuff."
Although they talked often, Sarah was silent concerning the sayings. Jan feared her well-intended words were being dismissed, yet she continued to pray, listen, and write. Each saying focused on what was happening in Sarah's life at the moment.
It was months later, and many sayings, when Sarah once again shared something important with Jan, "Mom, all my friends love these! Every woman should read your sayings. You should write a book, and illustrate it!" Sarah had not been rejecting Jan's words of encouragement, she had been enthusiastically sharing them. Because of Sarah's trust in her heartfelt words, Jan soon realized the answer to her prayer had not been for her daughter only, but for all women. She understood a personal mission was taking shape.
Her sayings became the source material for her two books, and the foundation of her enthusiastic presentations, workshops and retreats. The inspiration and encouragement she brings to women is evidenced by the thousands of women she has been invited to share time with, and by the nearly 4400 books sold. Jan's message is her key to touching the hearts of women, "Recognize your gifts, identify your goals, trust your abilities. You are worthy of goodness."
Biography:
Jan Bethancourt received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from, the University of Louisiana, Lafayette (formerly the University of Southwestern Louisiana), and studied extensively at the Glassell School of Art, the teaching branch of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. She is the mother to a son and daughter, each married, and who have blessed Jan with grandchildren, seven in all. Jan and her husband have been married for nearly 45 years, and live in a suburb of Houston, Texas.… …………
Submitted 6.15.2020
