When I was a young girl, growing up in a dysfunctional home, I was shy and lacked confidence in myself. However, a very special second grade teacher left a positive imprint on my heart that stayed with me throughout childhood and into my adult life. Mrs. Rueger saw something in a shy second-grader, who thought she was not important, and planted a seed in the young girl’s heart. Based on a poem I had written, the intuitive, kind woman told me that I had a talent for writing. She called me up to her desk one day after class and whispered, “Wanda, someday I believe you will become an author.” Little did I know then that her encouraging words would eventually come true. The one thing I did know was that it felt good to realize that someone cared about me and saw a potential that my parents did not see.

I thank God often for the imprint Mrs. Rueger had on my life, and also for opening the doors many years later for me to take my first writing course. While I didn’t get published immediately after finishing those classes, it wasn’t long before my first fiction story was accepted. After writing and having several hundred stories, articles, devotionals, and puppet scripts published with various magazines and Sunday school take-home papers, I took another writing course that taught me how to write novels. In 1997 I had my first novel published with Barbour Publishing, and now, to date, I’ve had over 100 books published with that same publisher. Barbour Publishing took a chance on a new author over 20 years ago, and they, too, have left a huge positive imprint on my life.

Is there someone special who has left an important imprint on your life? Please share so that others will be encouraged.

With Christmas just a few weeks away, I have begun to think about some of our holiday traditions. One very special tradition is going to church on Christmas Eve to sing Christmas Carols and light candles. Gathering with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus is always a joyous time that brings us all closer together.

When our children were young and still living at home, we had the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree as a family. Once the boxes of decorations had been gotten out, and my husband hung the lights on the tree, we, along with our two children, would hang ornaments, garland, and tinsel on the branches. Then we’d turn off the lights in the room and sit back to enjoy the colorful lighted tree.

Now that are son and daughter are older and have families of their own, my husband and I decorate our home together. This gives us a time of togetherness which we both enjoy.

What special family traditions do you have during the Christmas season?

In my novel, The Gift, which is book 2 in my Prairie State Friends series, the main character, Leah, does reflexology. She feels that God has given her this gift to help others. However, there are some in her Amish community who believe that Leah’s foot doctoring is not from God, and that massaging and pressure-pointing people’s feet does no good for anyone.

I personally feel that everyone has been given some sort of gift (or talent). I also believe that if we use our gifts to serve the Lord, we will not only be blessed, but others will be too.

Do you know what your special gift is? How have you used it to serve God and bless others? Has anyone ever made light of your gift? If so, how did you respond? Leah continued to serve others through her reflexology, despite any negative comments or avoidance.

Since I was a child I have felt that God gave me the gift to write stories. I faced ridicule by some family members when I was a young girl, but I kept focused on my goal to become an author. It is my hope that the words God gives me to write each of my books will bless my readers in some special way.