snowflakes to snowballs

While I was growing up, and my A.D.D. was probably more than my parents could handle at the time, they would send me outside to build, create, and explore. Most often it was my Mom who encouraged me to pass the time by exploring with science and nature... playing with things that I could tangibly see cause and effect, rhyme and reason.  I had a book filled with science experiments and in this book was a clever way to catch snowflakes and keep them frozen long enough so you could admire many at once without them melting on your mittens. I still remember, walking out onto my front porch, with my cookie sheet, plastic wrap and black construction paper to see if I could prove science wrong and find 2 snowflakes exactly alike. Thus, becoming an instant millionaire and never having to return to school again! I bet I sat there for a solid 30 minutes (stop judging me, I could barely sit still long enough to use the bathroom let alone stare at particles of frozen water formed into stars!). Defeated I went back inside where I believe I got the "snowflakes are like people, they're all similar but each one is unique in it's own way, and they are all designed different just the way God designed each person differently" speech. Darn, science wins again... back to school it is.

More recently I began thinking about snowballs. It's amazing how a snowflake singled out is so vulnerable and delicate, but when packed together with some of it's closest friends it can be used to bring life to Frosty and chase away bullies! Maybe my mom was right afterall, snowflakes are just like people, alone we are vulnerable and delicate, but when we have friends and a support system, we somehow feel like we can be a part of something truly larger than ourselves.