Preface:
Warmthissomethingweallcrave.Whetherit'sintheformofahugorasmilefromalovedone,orthesimplefeelingofsunonyourskin,it'swhatmakeslifeworthliving.Butsometimes,warmthcanbehardtofind.Wegetcaughtupinthedailygrind,rushingfromonetasktothenext,andweforgettoslowdownandtakenoticeofthesmallactsofkindnessthatsurroundus.
Chapter1:
Sophiehadalwaysbeenabitofaloner.Sheneverquitefitinwiththeotherkidsatschool,andherparentsweretoobusyworkingtospendmuchtimewithher.Butshehadapassionforreading,anditwasthroughbooksthatshefoundherescape.Herfavoritespotwasthelocallibrary,whereshecouldloseherselfinaworldofadventureandmagic.Oneday,asshewaswanderingthestacks,shenoticedanolderwomanstrugglingtoreachabookonahighshelf.Sophiehesitatedforamoment,butthenshefoundherselfofferingtohelp.
Chapter2:
Thewoman'snamewasMrs.Jenkins,andshewassogratefulforSophie'skindnessthatsheinvitedheroverforteathefollowingweek.Sophiewasnervousatfirst,butMrs.Jenkinsmadeherfeelsowelcomethatsheendedupstayingforhours,listeningtostoriesaboutthewoman'slifeandsharingsomeofherown.
Chapter3:
Overthenextfewweeks,SophievisitedMrs.Jenkinsregularly,andthetwobecamefastfriends.Mrs.JenkinshadawayofmakingSophiefeellikeshebelonged,andsoonSophiefoundherselfcomingoutofhershell.Sheevenstartedtalkingtosomeoftheotherkidsatschool,andbeforelongshehadasmallgroupoffriends.
Chapter4:
ButasmuchasSophieenjoyedspendingtimewithhernewfriends,itwashertimewithMrs.Jenkinsthatshetreasuredmost.Thewomanhadawayofseeingstraightthroughher,tothepersonshereallywas,andSophiefeltlikeshecouldbeherselfaroundher.
Chapter5:
Oneday,astheyweresittinginMrs.Jenkins'garden,Sophienoticedasingleflowergrowinginacrackinthepavement.Itwasatinything,butitshonewithavibrantpinkcolorthatseemedtofilltheentirespace.Mrs.JenkinssmiledatSophie'samazementandtoldherthatsometimesthemostbeautifulthingscomefromthemostunexpectedplaces.
Chapter6:
ThatmomentstuckwithSophie,andshestartedtonoticelittlebitsofbeautyeverywhereshewent.Asmilefromastrangeronthebus,thesoundofbirdschirpinginthetrees,thefeelofasoftbreezeonherskin.Sherealizedthatwarmthwasn'tjustsomethingyouhadtoseekout;itwasallaroundher,ifsheonlytookthetimetonoticeit.
Chapter7:
Asshegrewolder,Sophiecarriedthatlessonwithher.Shewentontostudyliteratureincollege,andeventuallybecamealibrarianherself.Shemadeithermissiontocreateawarmandwelcomingspaceforeveryonewhowalkedthroughthedoorsofherlibrary.
Chapter8:
Oneday,asshewasputtingawaybooks,shenoticedayounggirlsittingaloneinacorner,tearsstreamingdownherface.Sophieapproachedhergentlyandaskediftherewasanythingshecoulddotohelp.
Chapter9:
Thegirl'snamewasLily,andshehadjustmovedtotown.Shewasfeelingoverwhelmedandscared,anddidn'tknowhowtomakefriends.SophielistenedpatientlyasLilypouredoutherheart,andthensheinvitedhertojointhelibrary'sbookclub.
Chapter10:
Lilywashesitantatfirst,butSophieassuredherthatitwasasafeandwelcomingspace.SheintroducedLilytosomeoftheothermembers,andbeforelongthegirlhadawholegroupoffriends.
Chapter11:
Asthemonthspassed,Lily'sconfidencegrew,andshestartedtogetinvolvedinotheractivitiesaroundtown.Sheevenjoinedtheschool'sdramaclub,somethingsheneverwouldhavehadthecouragetodobefore.
Chapter12:
SophiewatchedwithprideasLilyblossomedintoaconfidentandhappyyoungwoman.Sheknewthatitwasn'tjustherownkindnessthathadmadeadifference,butthecollectivewarmthandsupportoftheentirecommunity.
Chapter13:
Shestartedtoseethatwarmthwasn'tsomethingthatcamefromonepersonoroneact,butfromthewaywetreateachothereveryday.Itwasthesmilewegivetoastrangeronthestreet,thehugweoffertoafriendwho'sgoingthroughatoughtime,thekindwordwespeaktoacoworkerwho'sfeelingdown.
Chapter14:
Andsherealizedthatwarmthwasn'tsomethingthathadtobebigorflashy.Sometimesitwasjustafleetingspark,asinglemomentofconnectionthatcouldchangeeverything.
Chapter15:
Asshegrewolderstill,Sophiefoundherselfsurroundedbypeoplewholovedher.Shehadahusbandwhoadoredher,childrenwhomadeherheartsing,andfriendswholiftedherupwhensheneededitmost.
Chapter16:
Butevenwithallthatwarmtharoundher,sheneverforgotthelessonsshehadlearnedfromMrs.Jenkinsallthoseyearsago.Shestilltooktimetonoticethelittlethings,toappreciatethebeautyinunexpectedplaces.
Chapter17:
Andwhenshesawsomeoneinneed,whetheritwasachildinthelibraryorastrangeronthestreet,shealwaysstoppedtoofferahelpinghand.Becausesheknewthatsometimes,allittakesisonemomentofwarmthtochangesomeone'slifeforever.
Chapter18:
Asshesatinherrockingchairontheporch,watchingtheworldgoby,Sophiefeltcontent.Sheknewthatshehadlivedagoodlife,filledwithloveandlaughterandwarmth.
Chapter19:
Andassheclosedhereyesforthefinaltime,shefeltasenseofpeacewashoverher.Becausesheknewthateventhoughhertimeonthisearthwasover,thewarmthshehadsharedwithotherswouldliveonforever.
Chapter20:
Andsosheleftthisworld,butnotbeforepassingonthelessonthathadshapedherentirelife.Thatwarmthissomethingwecanallcreate,simplybybeingkindtooneanother.
Chapter21:
Soletusalltakeamomenttonoticethebeautyaroundus,toofferahandtothoseinneed,andtocreatemomentsofwarmthwhereverwego.Becauseit'sthefleetingsparksthatshinethebrightest,andit'sinthosemomentsthatwetrulymakeadifference.
Chapter22:
Letusbetheonestocreatethosesparks,toignitetheflameofkindnessthatburnswithinusall.Andletusneverforgetthatasinglemomentofwarmthcanchangeeverything.
