"Holiday Spirit"

[Sheldonrs]

I was working at a law library in Los Angeles. My hours were 3:30pm 'til midnight. We had just had our Christmas party that afternoon where we each got a small gift and our Christmas bonuses. And I had several plates of food left over from the party in a bag.
I received $50.00, a tin of M&Ms and a small teddy bear.
As I was walking to the bus stop after work that night (Christmas Eve) a man and his wife and small son (about 4 years old) were waiting on the bench. The man asked me if I could help them out. They were trying to raise enough money to get a motel room for the night because they had just been evicted from their apt. for not being able to pay their rent. He had lost his job. I handed him the envelope with the $50.00 in it and I gave the Mom the bag with the food. Then I gave the tin with the little teddy bear on it to the boy. He gave me the biggest smile and hugged my neck.
I was smiling and crying for days after that. That family gave me the best present I ever received.

And ever since then, every Christmas, this is the first thing I think about when I think of the holiday.