Dear Santa,
I’ve been thinking. I know you always bring me new toys and treats, but …and don’t tell her this… I prob’ly get more than enough treats all year and my toy box is overflowing. I’ve still got loads of brand new balls left from my tennis ball tree. And there’s lots of four-legses and two-legses who have none at all.
I don’t mind if you give them mine.
She told me about one Christmas when she was left alone with my boys who were very little. They wouldn’t have had any presents or any nice food if it hadn’t been for the Salvation Army knocking on her door and delivering a Christmas. She knew they were too young to notice, but she knew and it was breaking her heart. That knock on the door changed everything and my boys smiles on Christmas morning was her Christmas present that year.
Everyone needs a little help now and then…and sometimes a lot of help. She told me too about a time when she had nowhere to go. She told me how scary it was out there at night and how cold. Now, I like being outside in the dark… but it is different if there is only a curtain between you and a nice, warm sofa.
So, if you want to share my stuff with any other dogs who don’t have nice, warm sofas or someone to cuddle, that’s okay.
And Ruby’s mum, Willow has something to say about that too…
Much love, Ani xxx
From Willow
Christmas is drawing near.
Tinsel, fairies, Santa’s everywhere, tiny lights twinkle.
Hurry past her, close your eyes, tell yourself she’s okay
It is so easy to believe, convenient lies and hope she will go away.
Don’t give her a second thought.
What were the circumstances that, her to this corner brought.
How old is she? she does look young.
But some of them play on that they work in gangs….Scum.
She does look cold, she needs a coat.
She looks so hungry and tired. Is that a lump in your throat?
There are lots of souls like her around,
Sleeping in doorways and cardboard boxes in our cities and our towns.
Should you give her your coat or your change, buy her a hot drink
You don’t want her to spend it on booze or drugs help her out, don’t you think?
This dilemma makes you feel sad well what can I say life can be bad!
She might be an angel she might be just be lost.
But if you just helped her would that be too high a cost.
So spare a thought as you gather round your Christmas tree.
With your Christmas treats for all your family,
For all those who are lost, sad, lonely, cold or in pain.
If you gave to a homeless charity you would not loose, just think of what you could gain
You can donate to Shelter: https://england.shelter.org.uk/donate_give
Crisis at Christmas: https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-for-crisis-at-christmas/
Salvation Army: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/
Or a local charity, anywhere in the world.
About Willow Willers
I am the mum of three boys all now grown and flown to live their own lives. Luckily they do keep in touch and visit often. I now have two beautiful grandsons.
When I started this blog I had not long come home from the hospital after an accident in which I broke my back. I was in the hospital for a month and had three operations.
It has taken me a long time to recover, I am still recovering but every day my body is getting stronger. It has taken a huge toll on me mentally I had to retire early on health grounds, I had to come to terms with finding out people I thought were friends were not. I had to make a new life for myself. Things I could do easily have become difficult.
Writing poetry and prose has helped me a great deal, in fact, I think it has saved my life.
Find and follow Willow Willers
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
We have a lot of beggars on our streets and it seems to be increasing by the day. Our neighbouring country of Zimbabwe is in a state of collapse and many Zimbabweans have crossed the border hoping for a means of survival. I don’t ever give money to beggars, I hand out tins of food. I prefer to give money to the church who administer its application. A lovely poem, Willow. I have seen homeless people in your country and Budapest had a lot of homeless men, although apparently there is a story around that.
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It becoming such a sad fact of life the poor are just multiplying. Thank you for reading and sharing Robbie 💜
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Beautiful, poignant poem Sis 💜
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Thank you Sis 💜
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💜💜💜
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A very touching post.
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Thank you for reading, Sadje.
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A pleasure, though very heartbreaking the stories of homeless people and children.
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It is… and should not happen in today’s society. But it does.
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So right. But those who have are greedy and don’t share with those who don’t have. Not all but many.
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Unfortunately that is often the case, mainly those in power.
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Specially those in power.
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Thank you 💜
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A pleasure Willow.
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💜💜
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💖
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What a brilliant topic to raise at this time of year. I salute your charitable mind.
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Thanks, Danny.
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Reblogged this on Daniel Kemp and commented:
Be Charitable at Christmas
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A heartfelt poem, Willow and Ruby. Not everyone has a happy Christmas. Some dogs and cats are lonely and cold at Christmas too. Our family gives money to animal and people charities here in Spain. Dot and her mom. xo
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Thank you Daniel this is a subject that weighs heavy on my mind all year round 💜
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Oh! Ani thank you for posting my Mum letter she and I are grateful that you have brought this to the fore. And well done Ani for offering to share your toys and treats, I am sure he will not stint on your things because you are so good 💜💜💜
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Thank you for sharing this one with us, Willow and Ruby… such an important reminder. ❤
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Yes there are lots of people who need help 💜
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There are indeed, Willow ❤
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💜💜
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Pingback: Ani’s Advent 2019! Getting it right… and a poem from Willow | willowdot21
Such a lovely post Ani. And I so agree with you. As wonderful as Christmas is, it does often ignore those who have little or nothing and lavish more on those who already have more than enough. So it’s up to us.
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Thanks, Fransi… it doesn’t take much to change everything sometimes.
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No it doesn’t Sue. The biggest change, however, is changing our own behaviour and learning to desire less and share more and to teach that philosophy to our children.
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I agree with you completely, Fransi.
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Yes Frankie we must always remember and help those less fortunate than ourselves 💜
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Generosity and compassion are important all year round, but feel especially poignant at Christmas time. Thoughtful reflections from you Ani, and a beautiful poem from Willow.
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It shouldn’t need to wait till Christmas… but it does seem to highlight the plight of so many who have nothing.
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Thank you you for reading Wallace this subject lies heavy on my mind all year round 💜💜
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Sue, this series is really lovely. I missed a few last week, but I’ve been catching up.
Ani, has got the most wholesome, loving eyes… The picture is beautiful!!!
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Thank you, Beckie. Ani runs something like this every year for Christmas 🙂
(And she is indeed a beautiful dog :))
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💓
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Ani is beautiful 💜🌹
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Nobody should be homeless at any time of year but it is all the more tragic at this time of year when it is so family orientated.. Lovely poem Willow and Ani’s sentiments are something we can all apply. xx
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Agreed, Sally… in this day and age it simply should not happen that children go hungry and people are on the streets. xx
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♥
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Salvation Army and many other charities, for both humans and animals, deserve our donations now, and all year through. Automatic monthly deductions are particularly helpful.
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I agree, Eliza…not just at Christmas.
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Such a beautiful and touching post Ani and Willow. So many in such desperate need seems to be growing everywhere. A world full of riches yet so many starve 😦 ❤
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It makes no sense at all ❤
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❤
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A very lovely poem, and Ani is such a wonderful fourlegger reminding on the sadness in the neighbourhood too. Thank you very much, because it seems the world gets more and more out of control. Michael
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This is somethingwe should be able to help.
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So true Sue! And we should do much more bringing some bad politicans into prison. 😉
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I wouldn’t dream of commenting on that Michael 😉
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🙂
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Thank you for the enjoyable post. When you write about dogs (and cats and birds), you have me–love them.
Best,
David
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Thanks, David. I would say that my Ani is more than a dog to me… but I wouldn’t want to devalue her nature 🙂
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Excellent lead-up to the poem by Willow. It’s always good to think of those who might need a little extra help.
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I’ve been glad of help myself too often to forget that.
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Living in situations where you are given to makes you realize it’s important. The year my parents split up (so, yeah, long enough ago that I wasn’t an adult at the time), it was really hard for us to make it. I appreciate what everyone did at the time.
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I agree… ther ehave been too mant times when I have been very grateful for the kindness I have been shown to forget how important it is.
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