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The Best Christmas Gift
Friday, 09 January 2009 14:31 | LAST_UPDATED2 | 
Written by Steve Jennings | 
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Bob's "home" was a three foot tall strip of cardboard stretched across the front of a small alcove that protected the basement doors of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, where President Lincoln worshipped when he was in the White House.
I stopped by on a chilly December night in 2006 to bring him a Space® Blanket, a handy thing to help reflect his body heat. A rat ran out from under the cardboard and across the street as we talked. Bob chuckled.
"That's Fred. I guess I forgot to pay the rent," he said with a smile. He had grown accustomed to the rigors of life on the street. Little did he know that night what incredible changes would happen to him during the next year.
Bob was a true gentleman. He was quick to thank people who helped him and put the needs of others before his own. But Bob had a problem with alcohol that derailed his efforts to get off the street for over two decades. He would have some success for a few months and then lose his job because of his drinking.
Esther began her adventures with TOP when she was in about 8th grade. She had a gentle spirit and loved working with homeless people. On one of her early trips, she met Bob. The two of them hit it off right from the beginning. Esther looked forward to seeing Bob every time she went to Washington DC on a TOP Trip to serve homeless people. Sometimes they would spend most of their time together talking. Other times they just sat next to each other on a bench and said very little. Their friendship endured all the way through Esther's high school career. She and Bob wrote to each other some, and Esther prayed for him regularly.
In May of 2007, something incredible happened to Bob. He and a bunch of other guys had gotten a six pack of beer (it was all they could afford) and were passing them around. As the nearly full can came around to Bob, he stopped and looked hard it. The thought that hit him was welcome but took him by surprise.
"I'm tired of this. I don't want to drink anymore."
Without taking a sip, he sent the beer can to the next man. He had taken his last drink.
Just a few weeks later he got a job with a landscaping company. Toward the end of the summer he got a better job as a plumber's helper. On the first of December he moved off the street and rented a room.
On the Sunday morning before Christmas, the youth groups from Streetwise Ministries and Riverton United Methodist Church were preparing to take a meal and clothes to Franklin Square in DC. When I walked in the door of the church, one of the first people I saw was Esther. She was home from college and was eager to go on the TOP Trip.
I updated Esther on all that had happened to Bob since the spring. She was literally jumping with excitement at the news and asked if Bob would be at Franklin Square that day. I told her he just might and walked out the door to call him. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to see her again.
It was gray, dreary and raining when we arrived at Franklin Square. We had to set up a canopy to cover the clothes we were handing out. Esther and several others were serving food out of the vans. As everyone was setting up, I stepped into the middle of the 90+ homeless people who had braved the elements to get some help and hot food.
"Hey, Steve!" It was Bob. "Where is she?"
"She's in the van," I answered.
Bob pushed passed me and the 20 or so men waiting in line for food as he rushed to the van. Esther held out her arms and the two of them embraced. Bob's back was to me, but I could see Esther's face. Her joyful expression said it all. After years of sharing his struggles, she now got to share his victory.
I didn't have a camera, but that moment will be forever etched into my memory. I was blessed to see hope fulfilled and friendship triumph over adversity. It was the best Christmas present I received that year. Maybe the best one ever.
I stopped by on a chilly December night in 2006 to bring him a Space® Blanket, a handy thing to help reflect his body heat. A rat ran out from under the cardboard and across the street as we talked. Bob chuckled.
"That's Fred. I guess I forgot to pay the rent," he said with a smile. He had grown accustomed to the rigors of life on the street. Little did he know that night what incredible changes would happen to him during the next year.
Bob was a true gentleman. He was quick to thank people who helped him and put the needs of others before his own. But Bob had a problem with alcohol that derailed his efforts to get off the street for over two decades. He would have some success for a few months and then lose his job because of his drinking.
Esther began her adventures with TOP when she was in about 8th grade. She had a gentle spirit and loved working with homeless people. On one of her early trips, she met Bob. The two of them hit it off right from the beginning. Esther looked forward to seeing Bob every time she went to Washington DC on a TOP Trip to serve homeless people. Sometimes they would spend most of their time together talking. Other times they just sat next to each other on a bench and said very little. Their friendship endured all the way through Esther's high school career. She and Bob wrote to each other some, and Esther prayed for him regularly.
In May of 2007, something incredible happened to Bob. He and a bunch of other guys had gotten a six pack of beer (it was all they could afford) and were passing them around. As the nearly full can came around to Bob, he stopped and looked hard it. The thought that hit him was welcome but took him by surprise.
"I'm tired of this. I don't want to drink anymore."
Without taking a sip, he sent the beer can to the next man. He had taken his last drink.
Just a few weeks later he got a job with a landscaping company. Toward the end of the summer he got a better job as a plumber's helper. On the first of December he moved off the street and rented a room.
On the Sunday morning before Christmas, the youth groups from Streetwise Ministries and Riverton United Methodist Church were preparing to take a meal and clothes to Franklin Square in DC. When I walked in the door of the church, one of the first people I saw was Esther. She was home from college and was eager to go on the TOP Trip.
I updated Esther on all that had happened to Bob since the spring. She was literally jumping with excitement at the news and asked if Bob would be at Franklin Square that day. I told her he just might and walked out the door to call him. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to see her again.
It was gray, dreary and raining when we arrived at Franklin Square. We had to set up a canopy to cover the clothes we were handing out. Esther and several others were serving food out of the vans. As everyone was setting up, I stepped into the middle of the 90+ homeless people who had braved the elements to get some help and hot food.
"Hey, Steve!" It was Bob. "Where is she?"
"She's in the van," I answered.
Bob pushed passed me and the 20 or so men waiting in line for food as he rushed to the van. Esther held out her arms and the two of them embraced. Bob's back was to me, but I could see Esther's face. Her joyful expression said it all. After years of sharing his struggles, she now got to share his victory.
I didn't have a camera, but that moment will be forever etched into my memory. I was blessed to see hope fulfilled and friendship triumph over adversity. It was the best Christmas present I received that year. Maybe the best one ever.
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