The Snow Angel

Holly looked out the window at the gently falling snow. She longed to go outside and build a snowman. Mother put her arm around her, “Are you feeling okay, honey?” she asked.

Holly sighed, “I really wish that I could build a snowman. Like we did last year.”

Mother wiped away the tear that trickled down her cheek. Lifting the frail little girl into her arms she exclaimed, “He was the best snowman on the whole block! Wasn’t he?”

With a big smile, Holly nodded. “I’m not feeling too sick today, Mommy. Please, can we build a snowman?”

Mother changed the subject. “Would you like to watch your Snowman movie?”

Holly snuggled up in a comforter on the couch while Mother put in the DVD. When the movie was nearing the end Mother whispered, “I have a surprise! I’ll be right back.” Removing a pail from under the sink, she slipped on her coat and gloves and went outside.

“Hi, Mrs. Hansen,” the Davenport children hollered. The Davenports lived next door to the Hansens and they were busy building a snowman in their backyard.

Mother waved at the children and then began filling the pail with snow.

Six-year-old Sarah Davenport rushed over to Mrs. Hansen and asked, “Can Holly come out and build a snowman with us?”

“I’m afraid not, Sarah. She’s been very sick!”

“Momma told me she has chemo. Now will she get better soon?” Sarah asked.

“We’re hoping that the chemotherapy will make her better Sarah!”

“I know Heavenly Father is watching over Holly, ’cause I pray for her every morning and every night!”

“Thank you Sarah, but I don’t believe God answers prayers anymore.”

Mrs. Hansen’s comment puzzled Sarah. She knew Heavenly Father answered everyone’s prayers.

Sarah looked down at the pail of snow Mrs. Hansen was holding. “What are going to do with the snow?”

“Holly wants to build a snowman, but she’s can’t come out into the cold. I’m taking the snow inside so she can make her own little snowman.”

Holly’s face lit up when Mother dumped the snow onto a plastic table cloth that she had laid on the floor. Holly put on her gloves and began forming three snowballs while Mother gathered buttons for eyes, a baby carrot for the nose, and a strip of cloth for a scarf. When the snowman was completed, Holly looked out the window as mother placed the little snowman on the ledge outside. “It’s better than nothing, Heavenly Father, but I wish I had a big snowman, like Sarah,” Holly prayed out loud.

Sarah went inside to find her mother. She found her in the kitchen making gingerbread for F.H.E. Mother looked up when Sarah entered the room. “Hi Sweetie. Why so glum?”

Sarah began to cry. “Mrs. Hansen is so sad, because she doesn’t know Heavenly Father answers prayers!”

Mother put her arm around Sarah. “Mrs. Hansen is having a difficult time. It’s always hard when a loved one is sick, but it’s even harder for the Hansen’s who don’t know that families can be together forever, like we do.”

Can’t her Daddy give her a blessing?” asked Sarah.

“No Sweetie. Her Daddy doesn’t hold the priesthood. They’re good people and they believe in Christ, but they don’t even have a church of their own they belong to.”

“Holly’s my best friend. If she’s got no priesthood, no church, and no snowman, we have to help!

“I’ve been meaning to give them a copy of The Book of Mormon, when they moved here, but then Holly got sick and I didn’t want to bother them,” said Sarah’s mother. “But you’re right Sarah. Their family could certainly use some everlasting joy right now!”

That night for F.H.E. the Davenports quietly worked to build a snowman, in the shape of an angel, in the Hansen’s front yard. In the angels outstretched arms they placed a copy of The Book of Mormon, wrapped securely in a plastic zipper bag, a gift box holding a tiny gingerbread stable and a card that read:

“To our dear friends,

‘And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’ May the peace of our Savior Jesus Christ fill your heart with joy this season and always.

Your neighbors,The Davenport family.”

The next morning when Holly looked out the window to check on her tiny snowman, she couldn’t believe her eyes. “Mommy and Daddy, God does answers prayers! I told Him that I wanted a big snowman!” Holly exclaimed. “And look, it had to be Him, ’cause it looks just like one of His angels!”

by Margie Nauta Lee