The Christmas Miracle

A cold and crisp night to be out. Even more so in a horse and buggy. The Yager family was out late visiting the home of friends and were preparing to go home. Little 3 year old Sara Yager was setting in the buggy bundled against the cold. But perhaps not bundled enough. While mother and father were saying their good-byes something, we’ll never know what, spooked the horse. Off the horse and buggy went. Tearing down the lane and onto the road while a terrified mother and father looked on. In a flash they ran after the horse but it quickly out distanced them in the night until all they could do was follow the sounds of the hoofs on the road. Then they could hear nothing. All along mother and father ran. Ran and prayed. Prayed for Sara. Prayed against their fears for their little girl. They ran down several farm roads hoping they were following the right path. After an eternity they came upon their buggy with the horse standing there, head down. Nostrils flaring as vapors from it’s breath poured out in the cold night like smoke from a dragon. They ran up to the buggy to clutch their little girl. She wasn’t there! Desperately they look around. It is dark. It is cold. Where is Sara. “Sara, Sara” they cried! They can’t find her so they raise the alarm. The authorities are contacted. Over one-hundred people search the area. The roads are searched. The fields. The problem is no one knows were little Sara fell out of the buggy. After the Yager’s lost contact with the buggy no one knows which roads the horse took in it’s mad dash. Everyone searched for hours. With lights shining in every direction they searched. “Sara, Sara” they cried! Cold, tired, with blistered feet, the darkness won. The search is called off at 4am to resume again at dawn.

Sara Yager couldn’t understand what was happening. One minute she was sitting in the buggy looking at her mom and dad. The next she was bouncing around as the horse took off running. Running faster than the three year old had ever gone. She could see her mom and dad running after her. She reached out her arms for her mommy, but she keep getting further and further away until she was gone in the night. All she could see now was the black night. All she could hear was the horse and buggy speeding down the roads. Sara was thrown about in the buggy until one big bump shot her out onto the ground. The horse and buggy was gone. She lay there on the ground dazed, getting cold, in the dark. She knew she had to get up. When she stood up she realized one foot was colder than the other. She had lost one of her shoes when she was thrown from the buggy.
What goes through a three year olds mind at this time - Mommy. She was sore. She was cold. She wanted her mommy. So she started walking looking for mommy. Maybe she could see some lights and started walking towards them. Maybe not. In the country with the trees and hills sometimes you can’t see very far. Especially if you are only as tall as a three year old. Mommy, mommy she cried. No answer. Mommy, mommy she cried. Over and over Sara called out for mommy. Why didn’t she come? Her voice becoming weaker until “Mommy” only came out in a whisper. Her tears freezing on her little face. How long she walked she couldn‘t tell. But sometime later, tired and cold, she curled up in a ditch on the side of the road. Little Sara could go no more. “Mommy” she whispers.

Linda Banks had gone to bed thinking about the little Amish girl that was missing. The story had been on all the local news. Linda decided to get up early with her husband so they could help look for the little girl before they went to work.

It was a cold and bitter night with the wind chill at -6 degrees. Sara’s parents prayed. Sara’s community prayed. The volunteers prayed. All who watch the news about Sara prayed. Everyone prayed for Sara. Everyone prayed for her parents. Everyone prayed for the searchers. The night went on in prayer.

The next morning Linda and her husband were driving the country roads looking for something black. Black because Sara was a little Amish girl. Black because it would be easer to spot on the snow. Then there it was. Something black in the ditch. “Pull over, pull over” Linda cried. She raced from the truck to the little black bundle curled up on the ground. Linda approached trembling. Not from cold but from fear. The little girl who had been out all night in the freezing weather was not moving. With the simple prayer “please God” on her lips, Linda felt Sara’s face. It was still warm. She’s alive! Linda scoops her up as Sara opens her eyes and cries for her mommy. Linda was never so happy to hear a little kid cry. Away they race to the search command center. Linda jumps out of the truck and yells at the crowd “I found the baby, she’s alive”!


Paramedics whisk Sara away and check her over. They check for cuts, broken bones, and frost bite. Her little foot is cold and she has some scrapes so they start warming her up slowly. The crowd around them cried tears of joy. Mother and father beside themselves with joy. The words “thank you God” and “praise God” move through the crowd in a wave. The paramedics load Sara up for the trip to the city. The ambulance rushes to the hospital were the Doctors are waiting. They check for cuts. They X-ray Sara to make sure she hasn’t any broken bones. They continue to warm her up. The Doctors are amazed at Sara’s condition. The word miracle is used a lot.

Four hours later little Sara Yager leaves the hospital with her family. Homeward bound to be kept warm with blankets and hugs. Prayers of thanksgiving ascending.

All who heard the news of Sara rejoiced. The prayers for her safe return become praises to the Lord for returning her safe. She survived the night in the freezing cold when she shouldn’t have. The Christmas Miracle.