The Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason F. Wright

The Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason F. Wright is a heartwarming story about loss, tragedy, forgiveness, healing, love and the joy that comes when you reach out to make a difference in the life of another. Small kindnesses can lead to  life-changing miracles.

Rex Connor learned on a summer afternoon in September 1970 that seventeen seconds can change a life forever when, as a lifeguard, he diverted his gaze for 17 seconds to his girlfriend nicknamed Sparks and the eight-year old sister of Sparks, nicknamed Flick,  drowned. Overwhelmed by grief, Flick’s family blamed Rex who became so depressed that he attempted suicide.

Rex’s life began to turn around when he noticed that a woman he had helped took out a tablet and made a note of his good deed. Inspired by the concept, Rex adopted the practice of noting good deeds people had done for him and tried to perform one Seventeen Second Miracle every day.

40 years later in present day Charlottesville, Rex’s son, Cole Conner, is a teacher happily married  to Jade. He shares his father’s story with students that the school’s principal selects for a Seventeen Second Miracle discussion group. The students learn how Rex Conner could have allowed seventeen seconds to destroy him, but he chose to believe the smallest act of kindness could change the world. In time, the students invited to be a part of the discussion group begin to understand miracles can happen but you must participate in them.

This is an uplifting good book that opens our eyes to the small miracles that we experience each day. It inspires you to want to become a better person and to create small miracles each day!