The Real Meaning Of Christmas
December 24, 2009 
15 Comments
On my way to New Orleans on Monday, I saw a very charming movie on the plane called “4 Christmases.” It was pretty funny actually. For those of you who have to jam in a few holiday visits (which is usually extra stress), you need to check out this movie before you actually go and jump into those visits.
Monday night, we were walking around the French Quarter and went into an art gallery. On the floor of the gallery was a stunted version of Daphne – a cute little black Labrador puppy with one eye swollen shut. I started playing with the dog, and it had a great spirit.
This kid walked over and told us it was his dog. When I asked him where he got it, he told me he ended up rescuing it from a farm in Mississippi where, apparently, he was no longer wanted. The dog was six months old, had a limp on his right leg from being hit by a car, and now had the eye that was swollen shut.
This kid had no money to get any of the dog’s problems fixed. Why? The reason was that this kid was also a throw-away. He was 19 years old and homeless, because his parents kicked him out two years ago. So one lost soul took in another lost soul, and together they formed a beautiful bond.
We looked at Tom (the boy) and James (the dog), and knew we really needed to take care of the James’ eye. Tom told us it would cost $150.00 to treat the dog, and he didn’t have the money.
I immediately said I would take care of it if Tom would meet us at the vet. Tom’s 19 year old eyes looked at us amazed. He said no one had ever done anything like that, and he was unbelievably appreciative.
So I told him to call me the next morning, and gave him my cell phone number. The guy who owned the gallery said that Tom was a good kid. Many homeless kids have some problems with drugs or alcohol, and don’t follow through with things.
When we left, he thanked us again (still in shock). He texted me the next morning (from a cell phone someone let him borrow), and he said he’d be at Dr. Mike’s office at noon. When we arrived there at noon, Tom and James were waiting outside for us still in the same clothes from the night before.
We went into the vet’s office and Dr. Mike told us what he needed to do to fix James. Dr. Mike has seen a lot of street kids and their dogs, and he didn’t want to charge my credit card for the cost of all five treatments needed to fix James. So he only charged me for the first installment.
So we left James in the care of Dr. Mike, and we walked outside with Tom. Of course, the two of us wanted to tell him anything we could to give him hope that his life was worth kicking the drugs and getting off the street. We spent about ten minutes with him before we left.
We then had a discussion in the car, hoping we didn’t lecture him too much. As we saw him walk away down the street, I realized we took care of his dog but didn’t give Tom any money for lunch. So we pulled the car next to him and, shocking him once again, gave him money for lunch.
We spent the rest of the day walking around the city then, just by coincidence, we found ourselves in front of Dr. Mike’s around 4:45 pm. There was Tom walking James toward whatever abandoned house he was going to squat at that night.
It brought tears to our eyes as we watched him walking up the street picking up his friend – maybe the only one he’s had in years. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be kicked out of my house at age 17 and not being wanted.
Tonight and tomorrow all of you are going to be sitting with your families celebrating Christmas. A lot of you are probably apprehensive about spending time with your family. As you’re sitting by the fire tonight exchanging gifts, drinking eggnog (or soy eggnog if you live in California) and telling stories about your childhood, I want all of you to give a Christmas wish to Tom and James.
Also, when all of you go to sleep in your warm bed tonight, I want all of you to give thoughts to Tom and James and everyone like them. Give a thought to all the homeless kids who are not wanted, and to all the homeless adults who are squatting on the streets on park benches or in abandoned homes trying to stay warm on a cold December night.
Tomorrow when you get all your new clothes and your new Christmas toys, instead of shopping on Saturday put together a box of stuff you no longer wear or use, put it in your car and give it to a person in need. If you’ve got nothing to do on Christmas day, make that your Christmas gift to the world. Also, if you’d like to give Tom and James a gift, contact me and I’ll tell you where to send it.
The real meaning of Christmas is to give to those in need. I’d love for all of you to share your stores of how you gave to someone in need this Christmas.
So true… we should appreciate the things we have and the conditions that homeless people are in. Will definitely be making some kind of contribution this week.
Merry Christmas everybody… to David, coaches and all readers
Great blog David,
I gave a pile of books and clothes to a charity shop yesterday and they couldn’t have been more appreciative…
Happy Christmas to all…
Philip
I must have dropped off $500 worth of clothes in the charity bins about 3 months ago,…good stuff too! why wait till x-mas to do it?
Great story, brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing. I am a filmmaker and my biggest goal is to make life easier to those in need. Please email me Tom’s and James info
. Merry Christmas.
I am deeply touched. By this story and will be doing my best to make this christmas count to someone in need. I stay with a friend and yet a not homeless, I don’t have a job yet I can still eat everyday. I can imagine being outside in this cold thinking of where the next meal wil come from. May God help us all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfkAm3s7Mec
I think this video captures your message. Not me but just a regular dude looking out for those in need.
The coolest black guy ever!
New Orleans resident here. First blog I’ve read from you, David, after reading the first article, “10 Tips of Approaching Single Women” (a headliner on Yahoo!), and I’m much obliged for your care of others.
I will tell my parents of your idea in the morning, to give things we don’t need that others might want to those in more dire circumstances than most. The sad thing is these particular people aren’t hard to find, around here at least.
Again, thanks for your story, I’m sure Tom and James do. Keep up the good work and together we can save the world for those who inhabit it. Peace, and happy holidays.
I go feed the homeless every other month. And you know what it makes my whole day and night when people come to me after the meal and they say thank you. I’m a retired uaw worker. We need jobs here in the usa and not in other countries. It be best if we could look at all the labels that we buy of all products. Wake up everybody!! Whats wrong in buying MADE IN USA. The product you buy might be saving your neighbors job. Thank you for reading this. May God bless you all.
First- A sidenote on New Orleans
I love the city for a number of reasons. A cruise ship I played on docked in N.O. a few years ago and it was my first taste of Cajun culture. I met a close friend here who is from Metarie.
I simply love New Orleans piano. Dr. John, Professor Longhair, and my absolute favorite: James Booker. If you want to hear genius tales of the highest of highs, the lowest of lows and everything in between, have a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Wv-HYKat4
Finally, if your a sports guy, the Saints are hard not to like.
I frequently volunteer (David surely you’ve touched on this? volunteering is a great way to help others, feel good about yourself… oh yeah-and meet women too!)
by playing music in various hospitals/care centers around my city. After playing tonight, a Native-Canadian man came to talk with me about his appreciation for my music. He was clean cut and reasonably well dressed, yet struck me as a loner. He took a liking to my music and I must have talked with him for about 45 minutes after I entertained. I learned his mother had been hospitalized for over a year and he was visiting from Northern Saskatchewan (6 hour bus ride) I didnt ask why, but it seemed as though he didn’t plan ahead to find accomodations. I was a little bit shocked to learn he’d been spending nights in the hospital lobby. Anyways, my point is that I didn’t need to talk to him, but did so because I knew he wanted to talk to someone. Sometimes even this can go a long way in making someone feel better. After all, we’ve all been there.
To finish my story: this man struck me as someone who was lonely, yet lacked the initiative to do anything. He kept asking me questions about my city, about what to do, where to go, etc. I told him how to do these things but that it was up to him to do them. We can all genuinely be of help if we deisre.
What is most impressive to me is those who are humble in their generosity. A good message for those less fortunate (RK)
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
that’s heart-touching david. This is a great blog and I’m happy for Tom and James.
I wish those two a Merry Christmas. And thanks for the real meaning of Christmas! You’ve given us what Christmas really means.
Merry Christmas to you, to those two and to all!
Really? Stop sucking you own dick and get over yourself. If this is what it takes for you to feel like others think you’re a good person, you’re working way too hard. And if this kind of thing works with women, my God they need to snap to.
Jeff
I see that you are in the christmas spirit.
I would loved to be at your house today and enjoyed the holiday spirit!!
Very touching message DW. Thanks for what u did for Tom and James.
I have been lucky to travel all over the world and i’ve seen and met people living very hard lives. What astonishes me most is the bitter truth that the richest nation on the planet has homeless people. What happened to the old adage ” I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper”?
The last best hope on earth shouldn’t have people living on the streets
Jeff
Sucking your own dick is not something that works with women. Trust me, I’ve tried.
Your story really moved me, David.
Christmas this year was quite interesting as well. I didn’t help a stranger, but I had to go help a cousin in need.
We should always be grateful for what we have, however much or little we have. Thank you for reminding us of that.