The Seventeen Second Miracle

By Jason Wright

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wednesday Letters and The Cross Gardener , a story of small kindnesses-and life-changing miracles. Seventeen seconds can change a life forever. This is what Rex Connor learned on a gorgeous summer afternoon in 1970 when, as a lifeguard, he diverted his gaze for seventeen seconds and tragedy occurred. Forty years later the waves of that day still ripple through the lives of countless people, including his son, Cole.

Cole Connor has become a patient teacher, and now he has invited three struggling teenagers to visit him on his front porch to learn about Rex Connor-and the Seventeen Second Miracle. Together they will learn how Rex Connor could have allowed seventeen seconds to destroy him, but instead he chose to live every day believing the smallest of acts could change the world for good. And the students, each with their own secrets and private pains, will begin to understand that even tragedy brings lessons. Even pain brings comfort. Even death brings miracles. A seventeen second miracle can change a life-if you let it. ~~ back cover

Something I really appreciate about Jason Wright's books is not only are they uplifting, but he shares a principle and a practice for our every day lives. After reading The Wednesday Letters, I started personalizing what I call an Anniversary Journal and giving it to special engaged couples with the invitation to write in it the week of their wedding and, thereafter, each taking a page to record their thoughts on their subsequent anniversaries.

Miracles are all around us. Sometimes they impact people significantly, but quite often we create them by the small and simple things that may only take a few seconds. This book, The Seventeen Second Miracle, struck a particular chord with me because I had just received my first order from Wishes in my Pocket. Having already experienced the miracle of feeling and expressing gratitude daily, I now am becoming more aware of 17 - second miracles in my own life and leaving these tokens of gratitude with very deserving people.

"Love is a verb, boy. Seventeen seconds to thank her for dinner. Seventeen seconds to buy a bouquet on the way out of the grocery story. You can save your marriage, a life, a friendship, just seventeen seconds at a time." pg 284

Thank you, Jason, for this lovely message.