Celebrating Christmas at the Museum of the Bible
Museum of the Bible CEO Dr. Carlos Campo joins 'Fox News Sunday' to discuss the holidays at Museum of the Bible.
David Espinoza and his wife Toni were living on the southern border of Texas, in the city of McAllen, five hours south of Houston.
As Christmas approached, they received the worst news.
Doctors in Houston told David Espinoza that his heart was operating at only 10% capacity.
VISITORS FLOCK TO WINTER WONDERLAND LIGHT DISPLAY IN HONOR OF FAMILY'S LATE SON
If he didn’t get a heart transplant quickly, he would not live to see his family for another Christmas.
Worse, he was told that finding a perfect donor could take nine months or more.
Just ahead of Christmas, a wife wondered if she and many others were praying for someone to die in order for her husband to live. (iStock)
Toni Espinoza, known to be a prayer warrior, organized everyone she knew — and hundreds she didn’t — to pray for her husband to find a heart donor.
But within days, she felt conflicted.
She decided to change her strategy.
It seemed as if they were praying for someone to die in order for her husband to live.
FIREFIGHTER DRESSES AS SANTA CLAUS TO BRING JOY TO SICK KIDS: ‘SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN’
She decided to change her strategy.
She began praying fervently for God to completely and miraculously heal her husband.
For added comfort, the woman asked God to confirm her answered prayer by making it snow in McAllen, Texas, on Christmas Day. (iStock)
And just for added comfort, she asked God to confirm her answered prayer by making it snow in McAllen, Texas, on Christmas Day.
She shared her private decision to pray for these miracles with a trusted childhood friend named Crawford.
‘BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT’ EVER AS KIDS WITH MISSING LIMBS RECEIVE BIONIC ARMS: ‘AMAZING’
"Toni, have you ever seen snow?" her friend asked her.
She shook her head.
"It hasn’t snowed here in 109 years! And never on Christmas."
She’d lived in McAllen, Texas, all her life.
The average winter temperature on the border was about 75 degrees.
Toni and David Espinoza of Texas. "I know God is going to answer my prayers," she told a friend. (SQuire Rushnell/Godwinks)
Her friend continued, "The reason you’ve never seen snow is because it hasn’t snowed here in 109 years! And never on Christmas."
Toni Espinoza shrugged, smiled and gave her friend a look of resolve.
"I know God is going to answer my prayers."
’EVERYDAY PEOPLE,' HUNGRY AND HURTING, RECEIVE FREE MEALS IN FLORIDA
It was nearly midnight on Christmas Eve when one of the Espinoza daughters, home for the holidays, looked into the backyard — and shrieked.
"Mom, it’s snowing!"
Coatless, Toni Espinoza dashed into the backyard — delighted to see snow covering her fully flowered rose bushes.
Toni Espinoza is pictured on the night she rushed outside to see the snow. (David Espinoza)
Gazing into the night sky, as white snowflakes speckled her dark hair, she whispered, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
The next morning, children across McAllen bundled up, ran outside, rolled in the snow, fanned angels, and made snowmen for the first time in their lives.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.1eye.us/lifestyle
A McAllen newspaper headline announced the "First White Christmas Ever!"
Yet the best Christmas present of all came three weeks later.
The Espinozas' dramatic story appears in the bestselling book, "Godwink Christmas Stories" by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt. (Amazon)
David Espinoza’s Houston doctor looked at the medical charts.
He shook his head and said, "David, I don’t understand how this happened… but you’re going to live for a long, long time."
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
He added, "Your heart is completely healed."
In tears, the couple embraced — and praised God for the best Christmas gift ever.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The couple's story appears in the bestselling book, "Godwink Christmas Stories" by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt, from which this article is excerpted. Copyright © SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt. For more info, see www.godwinks.com.
Fox News Lifestyle
A look at the top-trending stories in food, relationships, great outdoors and more.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
