Winterglow
Far, far away, where snow falls all year long, there was a tiny village called Winterglow.
In the middle of the village stood a tall old lamppost with a golden lantern on top.
Everyone called it the Heartfire, because its glow kept the whole village warm.
Every Christmas Eve, the Heartfire shined extra bright, and in the morning, gifts appeared on every doorstep like magic.
But one year, just two days before Christmas,
the Heartfire went out.
The village turned cold.
The candy canes froze.
Even the snowmen shivered!
Only brave little Aspen, eight years old with big boots and a bigger heart, went out to check the lantern.
When she touched the lamppost, a soft voice said,
“Thank you for coming.”
Aspen jumped.
A tall, silver, shimmery man stood nearby.
“I’m Nicholas, the Lantern Keeper,” he said. “The Heartfire needs hope to shine. But this year, people have been worried and sad. There hasn’t been enough kindness, people are feeling hopeless. I couldn’t gather enough magic.”
Aspen shook her head.
“There is kindness, there is hope! You just have to look for it.”
So she took Nicholas by the hand and showed him:
Mrs. Pinecone feeding the stray cats on her porch.
Mr. Evergreen leaving food for families who needed some.
Kids at school making a paper chain of kind wishes.
Aspen said there are many more, you have to keep looking for the good, and you will find it.
With every kind thing they saw, Nicholas’s coat glowed brighter.
“But there’s one magic left,” Aspen said.
“The biggest kind.”
She handed Nicholas a little wooden star her dad had carved before he left on a long trip.
“This is my special wish,” she whispered.
“That everyone in Winterglow feels loved.”
Nicholas smiled. “This is exactly what the Heartfire needs.”
They hurried back to the lamppost.
Nicholas placed the wooden star inside the lantern, and Aspen turned the key.
WHOOSH!
The Heartfire lit up with golden warmth that spread around the village, melting frost and filling every heart with joy.
On Christmas morning, gifts appeared on every doorstep again, each one shaped like a tiny wooden star.
And from that day on, the Heartfire shined its brightest whenever someone in Winterglow did something kind.
Because one little girl knew the truth:
Even the smallest kindness can give enough hope to light up a whole village.
My God, My Music, My Life 