What's the nicest thing a stranger's ever done for you?

Question

Do you wish you could find that person to to tell them you've never forgotten?

Answer 1

Many years ago I was leaving California to move to Texas and go to college. Unfortunately, we got into a horrific accident in the middle of the night and my truck rolled 3 times and landed upside down. By the grace of God we lived, but what happened afterwards was an even greater miracle to me. Several people stopped to help, a trucker and his wife ~ Jerry and Shirley were their names ~ were wonderful. We had to be taken to the hospital so these 2 salvaged everything they could from the mess and put it in their truck - giving me their phone number (they just happened to live in Texas).

In the hospital the next day, (I had been released because I was okay, but my gf was not) I was calling everyone to tell them what happened and started crying when I heard my dads voice. The lady who was visiting her mother in the next bed heard everything. She ended up talking to my dad, taking me to her house, and I stayed with Barb and Ira - her husband - until my gf was discharged from the hospital. In the meantime she drove me everywhere, feed me, and asked for nothing in return. When she drove me to the junkyard to see my truck and take some pictures of it - she broke down crying unable to believe we had lived through that - the truck was so totaled.

We no longer had a car so once we were okay they drove us to the airport (an hour away), put us on a plane, and kept most of our stuff promising to mail us what we had left behind.

It is a much longer story and many other amazing and wonderful things happened to us that really proved to me the kindness and selflessness of the human spirit. Jerry and Shirley made a special trip to Austin to return our belongings and Barb and Ira eventually mailed all those boxes to us .... at their expense. All these total strangers went OUT of their way to help these 2 young girls who they'd never met in their lives. I will never forget them and I wish I knew where they were now because I'd like for them to know that I believe they are partly responsible for the woman I've become. One who always tries to remember to see the bright side of life ... takes time to help those less fortunate ... and has been able to follow my dreams and be a mom because of their graciousness and willingness to help a stranger. Wherever they are .. I hope they have been abundantly blessed and that the saying "what goes around ... comes around" has definitely been true for all of them!

Thanks for the questions ... and for reminding me again how very MUCH I have to be grateful for! Peace to you ... =)

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Answer 2

I left an abusive relationship with my young 2 year old daughter and a 4 year old son. Went to a totally new and strange town to hide from my ex. ( somewhere he would never think to look) Had all the clothes on my back and what would fit into a Greyhound locker. Had no money to get a motel and nowhere to go. Waiting for the Social Services to open in the morning so I could apply for temp. aide. A total stranger gave me a ride to a local motel, paid for one night for my children and I and handed me $40..! Told me to pass on my good luck when I could to someone else in need, and never asked for anything else. That was years ago, and I have never forgotten how much that meant. It started a whole change in my and my childrens lives. I have passed on to others whatever I could when I had it as this stranger did to me in my time of need. Without his help, I can not imagine what could have happpened to us. It was 8;00 p.m. in a strange night with no money nowhere to go in a strange and cold town. What I didn't add it this. The stranger was not someone off the street, but a policeman. I had heard that I should go to the police station to ask for help. When I got there it was after business hours and they were closed. A person walking by told me that we could wait by the vending machine which was in the hallway. I spread my coat and a blanket on the floor and my kids lie down to go to sleep. It was almost 10:00 p.m. Another person, (cop) walked by and said he didn't know who the other person was sthat said we could wait there but we couldn't . I thought we were going to half and sleep on the beach somewhere. do you know how scary that would be with two small children!We were getting ready to leave when this nice detective walked up and we told him what was going on. He told us he would take us to a safe place. He took us to the hotel, payed the bill and gave me the money. He said to just pass on the favor someday to someone else in time of need. He years later was still in the same job, and has been respected by many people in the community. He probably saved our lives that night, and I have never forgotten his generousity.There are some good people out there who do work for the police department, and this is one of them, I have passed on money or favors to other people since then who have been down on their luck or needed a favor because I know we all need a helping hand once in awhile.

Answer 3

Lots of things...one thing that a few people have done is tell me that I've dropped money when I never noticed that I had. I thought that was nice as they could have just picked it up.

Lately, I've had lots of freecyclers be very kind in giving me perennials for my garden...I have so many plants now that would have cost hundreds and even a good thousand had I had to buy them all...plus I've met about 3 or 4 really lovely women in doing so who have been so utterly generous and it gives me great faith in the world knowing so many people help each other out like that. I've given lots away too and know that I've made someone needy of something happy too.

Answer 4

I use to work at a coffee shop in the quiet part of the airport. I was sitting there reading a book and this guy came up and bought a coffee. When he left he left me a note then got on his plane soon after. It was a poem he wrote about me which was actually kind of creepy but in a way pretty nice. His email address was written on the back. 3 years later i found the old note and wrote the guy an email but he never wrote back.

Answer 5

I was having a very long day and had to go to Walmart to pick up something (I forget what). Anyhow, my oldest son who's 4 had to go to the bathroom. On the way out he spotted the giant gumball machine and refused to leave it until I gave him a quarter to buy one. I had just given birth about three weeks before that, was still a little sore from stiches and very tired. I couldn't find a quarter and my son was throwing a fit. Some lady came out of nowhere with a quarter in hand and gave it to my son. She smiled at me and said to hang in there. He got the gumball and asked to get into the shopping cart and was quiet the rest of the time in the store.

Answer 6

There have been hundreds of random acts of kindness made on my behalf but my favorite was a cold day outside Cheyenne. It was winter, deadly cold, and I saw as I passed a truck that the driver was behind the open hood. He gestured as though he would've thumbed a ride if he'd seen me sooner and I thought in that wind, at 17 below, I couldn't leave him. I took him to the nearest gas station, where he got a can, and I took him back. Then followed him to the station, where he insisted on buying me gas. He filled my tank, which got me home in good stead. Always wondered how he fared and to tell him thank you for the gas.

Answer 7

This is going to be my last answer of the night, and I like this question. About a month ago I was waiting for a taxi to pick me up and take me to an appointment. The taxi was late and I was getting so worried. Then this random woman drove by my apartment complex and rolled down her window, and asked me if I needed a ride anywhere- I said "Yes, thank God, thank you!" and I offered her a $5 and she said that would be fine. I get to my appointment on time, and then she runs in and says, "Hey, you gave me a twenty! Don't worry about paying me, it was my pleasure." I was so surprised. People can be kind sometimes!

Answer 8

The nicest thing a person's done for me was telling me not to worry for the future. She was a nice reassuring stranger...

...And yes, I would want to find her and tell her I haven't forgotten.

Great question, I'm giving you a star for this.

Answer 9

When my Dad was in palliative care I was sitting in the kitchen with my head resting on the table and a woman came up behind me and started rubbing my back. I looked up thinking it was my Mom and it was a lady that was sleeping over. I stood up kind of embarassed and she said in the kindest voice, "I know darling! I know!" So here she is calming me and just holding me and I thought she was sleeping over to stay with her husband on a cot. She was a dying patient! I wish I knew how to contact her but I think she is dead now. God love her she just touched my heart on such a deep level!

Answer 10

helped me the first time I got stranded at an airport.There were 2 actually and they stayed with me when they could have taken a different flight. I really need to look up the town theyre from and thank them again! :)