Stanley the Snowman
Value: The Story of Hanukah
A man wrote a very fun little Christmas song called “Frosty the Snowman” and you
all know it pretty well. Why don’t you sing a little of it because I tell you
the true story of Frosty the Snowman?
All done? Good, well what you don’t know that most of the Christmas stories you
know about, even the silly ones, started as a true story but the songwriters
change them some so they make good songs. Well that’s especially true with the
story of Frosty. But his name wasn’t Frosty. It was Stanley. You have to admit
“Stanley the snowman was a jolly happy soul.” sounds pretty silly.
Stanley was built by Jack and Susan and their dad two days before Christmas.
Jack was in 4th grade and Susan was in 5th and they made sure Stanley had lots
of good clothes to wear and extra good things for his eyes, nose and mouth. See
their daddy told them that an ancient custom tells us that if you make a snowman
realistic enough, he will come to life. It’s not a bad theory. This Christmas,
you and your family see if you make a super good snowman and you might have an
adventure like the one I am telling you about too.
Stanley did come to life that night. Dad waited up and watched him begin to step
out on his new snow legs and begin to explore the world. Your dad is aware of a
lot of magic he hasn’t told you about yet so listen when he tells his stories.
They are all true. Stanley didn’t just dance around all night though. Before
Jack and Susan met him Christmas eve day, he had build a very nice snowman home,
a little house for his snow dog if jack and Susan were to make him one and a
snow car although it didn’t actually drive.
Jack and Susan were pretty shy when they got up early that morning and saw
Stanley happily making his house. Finally, Jack led Susan out to meet the
magical snowman.
“Hello?’ Jack said timidly.
“Hello isn’t a question.” Stanley said and he put his big snow head back and
laughed.
“You are alive. Just like daddy said.” Susan said. “How can it be?” She gasped
still a little afraid.
“Well Susan,” Stanley explained. “Every Christmas, there is so much magic and
miracle power in the air because of the coming of Christ, some of it leaks out
onto silly snowmen like me.” He bowed low bending at his snowman waist. “I am
Stanley. I am here to play with you.”
“HOORAY!” the children yelled and they stopped being afraid and ran and played
with Stanley with all their might. Stanley was pretty good at finding games and
they rode on his shoulders as he went all over town, meeting their friends and
teachers and the Minster at their church too.
“I have heard of the Christmas miracle.” Pastor Kelly said, “but you are a whole
different kind of miracle aren’t you Stanley?” He laughed.
As the sun went down, it was finally Christmas Eve. Jack and Susan sipped hot
cocoa mommy made inside of Stanley’s wonderful snowman house. “You are the best
Christmas present ever Stanley.” Susan said and she hugged his neck getting snow
on her cheeks.
“But there are so many wonderful presents to have Susan. What would be the best
present in the whole world?” Stanley asked.
“I don’t know Stanley” Jack said feeling confused a little.
“Well let’s go see.” The magical snowman said. Just like that, they were flying
through the night sky just like Santa but holding onto Stanley snow hands for
all they could. They stopped at a big palace of a mighty king. “These children
have a castle and they are princes and princesses. Maybe I should make you the
kings kids for a Christmas present.” He said loudly so the guards nearby got
nervous.
“No, “Susan said shyly. I wouldn’t be able to run and play with everyone, just
other princesses, I wouldn’t like that. Show us more.”
And Stanley did. They flew like the wind passing birds and airplanes and
knocking on the windows to spell out Merry Christmas in the frost as they flew
next to them going wherever Stanley wanted to go. They saw children who go
wonderful stables full of horses, others that got staring roles in the best
movies just because their parents were powerful and rich. They even met children
who wished to become an eagle and fly high in the sky or any animal they wanted
and the magic of Christmas made it all so. Stanley said because of the powerful
magic of Christmas, all of these things could be theirs. Jack and Susan loved
the wonderful travel and seeing so many amazing and exotic things but finally
Susan said. “Stanley can we go home?”
Back at their back yard, Stanley served them cookies in his little home again.
“But why don’t you want the most expensive presents and ponies and all these
things. After all, Christmas brings that kind of magic.” He asked.
“Well,” Jack said. “The more we flew, the more I knew it wouldn’t be Christmas
unless it was with our mommy and our daddy in our little house with regular
presents. Somehow, those presents don’t mean Christmas to me.
“Me too, Stanley. Something was missing from all that and that thing, whatever
it is, makes Christmas wonderful.”
“Then I know the most special present of all that will make Christmas more
special than ever before.” Stanley said with a big snowman smile and he clapped
his hands. Instantly Jack and Susan were in a stable. They saw Mary and Joseph
looking down. And then Joseph signaled that it was their turn to look.
“Jack,” Susan said gasping with awe and wonder at where they were. “It’s the
baby Jesus.” And they stepped up and looked down at his innocent eyes and his
sweet smile. Jack even reached down and stroked his cheek. For his whole life,
Jack never forgot how the skin of the newborn savior felt. Outside of the
stable, they ran to Stanley.
“This is the present that is better than any we have seen tonight.” Jack said
happily.
“That’s because God gave this present to give us life that can never end.”
Stanley explained. “Horses would go away, mansions would decay, toys would break
or you would grow out of all those things. But life eternal is something you
will never stop using.”
“It feels like it really is Christmas now Stanley!” Susan said loudly and with
that, they were instantly on their porch.
“You know it all along that nothing could compare with Jesus for the best
Christmas present ever didn’t you?” Jack said to Stanley.
“Yes Jack and I knew you knew it too. It was fun having an adventure but now its
time to worship the new born king.”
“But we don’t want you to go Stanley.” Susan said with a small sob.
“I won’t be far away. Next Christmas build a snowman twice as good and we will
have adventures a hundred times better than these. But just like this Christmas
Eve, we will end each night worshiping Jesus for saving all people from their
sins.”
“HOORAY!” the kids shouted and they gave final snowy kisses and hugs to their
wonderful friend and ran inside to get on their best Christmas outfit’s to go to
church and truly praise Jesus for coming to fill their lives with love and the
joy of Christmas every year.