It’s one of those events in life you vividly remember.

You remember the colors.

You remember the smells.

You remember the words.

For me, it was December 23, 1992.

I had just finished up my shift as a bag boy at Red Food Store in Athens, TN [BiLo later bought all the Red Food Stores, so you may know the grocery chain by that name].

I was just a stupid teenager who thought he knew everything.

I wasn’t an athlete or the lady killer, but I thought I was that “cool” guy—-

The kind of guy who looked down on all these dudes who were just coming into work—- spending Christmas Eve morning stocking the shelves.

What an idiot I was.

I don’t remember giving any of those guys the time of day before then—- after all—- as the “cool” guy, I couldn’t be seen associating with these dudes.

When you’re 16, Christmas takes a different turn.

You have to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with your family—- ugh!

You can’t be with your friends goofing off, playing video games, or cruising around town listening to Snoop Dog & Dr. Dre loud enough to make your ear drums burst.

I had better things to do than Christmas.

In fact I remember on that night being downright sour about Christmas.

Then it happened.

I’m walking out and one of the overnight stockers stops me with a huge smile on his face and an outreached hand to shake.

“Merry Christmas brother!”

He said it with as much warmth and life as if he was giving me the winning lottery numbers before the actual drawing took place.

“This is the best time of the year,” he said.  “Go home and enjoy it with your family!”

I left filled with the Christmas spirit!

And anytime I’m down around this time of year, I think about the words that night stocker said to me that night—- when I had on a bright red tie with a Red Food name tag pinned to my shirt that at the time, oddly enough, read “Scotty Claus.”

I don’t know whatever happened to that guy.

The old Red Food Store in Athens is now a furniture store I believe.

But nearly 20 years later that man’s spirit and kindness sticks with me.

I want to pass it on to you now.

Merry Christmas to you!

It’s the best time of the year!

Now go home and enjoy it with your family.