I have received many Christmas gifts over the years. The best gift I have received was presented to me 1 a stranger. I have never even known his name and I only had a contact with him 2 less than 60 seconds. His Christmas present to me changed3 way I think about people and about Christmas.
I hate Black Friday sales. It's often a gathering of people4are there for many different reasons. Some are looking for one item for their loved one, or perhaps themselves. Their purposes completely have5to do with the festive time of year, and can just be summed up with one word, "cheap!"
It was several years ago when my wife asked me6her at the local department store on Black Friday morning. They had advertised a child's bike 7 she wanted to buy for our son. We stood with a very large crowd, waiting for the manger to blow the whistle. I told my wife8 we got a bike, fine, but if we did not, I was OK with that too.
As9bikes began to gradually decrease, I saw my "polite" opportunity to reach my hands around the corner of one of the boxes. I10 it and suddenly felt some mild resistance. I looked up to see one of11gentleman I had ever seen in my life. Frightening was not the word to describe his appearance. He was wearing lots of metal spiked leather around12arms and even his neck and he had tattoos too.
I started to return the box13he gently pushed it back in my direction and back into my hands. He then directed it into my shopping car. He looked at me, smiled, and said, "Merry Christmas." All the way home I14that this moment was by far the best Christmas gift I had ever received. The kindness of a stranger that broke all prejudice I may have had of certain types of people. The softness of a human heart can be seen in a simple act. I will never15it.
