When my mom – nearly in tears – profusely thanked the man in her broken English for his random act of kindness, he gently kissed the back of her hand and told her she was a beautiful lady and wished us well.

His very random act of kindness stayed with me.

Curious to hear similar anecdotes of the kindness of strangers, Redditor Daqueef asked:

"What's a random act of kindness that stuck with you?"

Stranger In A Strange Land

Being in a different country can be a thrilling experience until something goes wrong. Fortunately, these locals demonstrated that kindness is a universal language.

Stranded In South Korea

"A few years ago, living in South Korea. Just gotten back from a trip, and was trying to get a taxi from a highway rest stop at like 2am (aka, very difficult). Finally managed to book a taxi, but I couldn't find the driver when he got there. He was calling me and getting frustrated, and I was getting overwhelmed. I don't know if you've ever had to exist in a language that's not your native language, but there usually comes a point where you're so tired, you just can't anymore, and even if you know you understand, it's just not making sense.

I had reached that point, so I sat down and resigned myself to losing the taxi and having to camp at the rest stop for the night. Some random old Korean man saw me crying and saying 'I don't speak Korean well. I'm sorry. I don't understand.' and grabbed the phone, got me to the taxi, and his wife (I assume) handed me some candy and patted my arm and told me I'd be okay. And then the taxi driver was super sweet and was all like 'It's okay. You'll be home soon.' All of them could have very easily ignored me, but were just like 'Here's a person who obviously needs help, so I'm gonna help.'"

– tadpole511

When In Albany

"An Albanian man who picked me up while hitchhiking. At the end he gave me 50€ saying that they're good people and not like how they're described in Italy (my country). This happened in southern Albania."

– Borderedge

Merci Beaucoup

"Yeah the language barrier is so tough, especially when something unexpected happens. My first time in France I got on a train that I thought was going to the airport. Well I was on the right line but the specific train I was on had a terminus before the airport. My small town doesn't have public transit (and the Paris metro/RER is not the most straightforward system) so I have no idea what's going on. The RER B goes to the airport so I got on the RER B. Well we get to the terminus and everyone gets off. I sit tight because we're not at the airport but everyone is telling me I have to get off so I do. I'm clearly agitated, don't have a cell, don't know where I am or how to get anywhere, and I have a plane to catch. A lady who barely speaks any English tries to comfort me. 'You going airport?' 'Yes' she points down the track and said 'he is coming.' Then she thinks for a second and says 'she is coming.' Then she stayed with me until the next train came and assured me it would take me to the airport."

"Another time in Bordeaux I asked a lady for change for a 5 or 10 or whatever because the ticket machine only took coins. My French was a little better but still terrible, so I was able to ask her for the change but I didn't understand her response. She didn't have change for my bill but she just gave me the money for the ticket. The French aren't super outgoing with strangers but I'm not sure why they get the stereotype of being rude. I've found them quite helpful."

– baxbooch

The Hitchhikers

"I was backpacking in Central American and ended up on the island Flores in Guatemala. My travel buddy and I wanted to see ruins nearby. We took a bus out there, got lost a little, but eventually found the trail to the town(ruins). So we're walking for about 3 hours and realize once the we get to the gate of the ruins we may just have to turn right back around to catch the last bus back. We decide to move forward and try to hitch hike our way back since we really wanted to see these ruins. Right when we finally reach the gate a truck pulls up and offers us a ride in, we decline saying we've already made it so we were good. The guy informs us it's about another hour or so walk past the gate to even get to the town so we take him up on the offer. We get, find out he works for the government and he gave us an hours long in depth tour of this historical site. This was especially awesome because it wasn't a popular spot so there wasn't a ton of informational placards around. Then at the end he asked us where we were staying and he told us he was also staying on Flores for a few days so he offered us a ride back. On the way back, him and his wife bought us dinner and then dropped us off and gave us their contact in case we got lost somewhere or needed suggestions on places to visit. It really made me feel like there is always help out there for you, sometimes you have to search and sometimes it falls into your lap. It was an awesome day I'll remember forever."

– mlnied36

Recognition

These Redditors were recognized for traits they were not conscious of at the time.

Sweet Compliment

"I did my makeup nice one day and I felt proud of it, mostly because I hid my acne/scars pretty well without looking cakey. A friend came up to me and told me I looked very pretty today and motioned a hand over her face to signal, what I assumed, meant my makeup. So I thanked her and told her what foundation I was using. She made a point to interrupt me and said no your skin looks very good today. That was the only time in my life my skin has been complimented and it made me realize my skin care is making a difference, I'm just too critical of myself. I was so in shock to her saying that I just got speechless and teared up a bit. Probably not as extreme as other comments on here, but hopefully it resonates with someone."

– AlbinoGiraffes

The Consultant

"My manager texted me with a random cartoon question and when I had the answer he came in on Monday with 100$ for me cause I apparently had won him money."

"Felt pretty random since we nearly never talked and I think he just knew I was the office nerd."

– TheDood715

When No One Else Stops

There are those who see people in distress and feign ignorance.

And then there are these caring souls who will stop and help someone in a time of need.

The Rain Stopper

"When I was in college I was walking back to my apartment and it starting pouring rain. I was getting drenched and of course got stuck at a crosswalk."

"Out of nowhere the rain stopped pouring and I looked up and saw an umbrella a girl behind me had put over me."

"She went past my apartment and then walked away. No one ever had done something that nice in my life, I was just shocked."

– notafilmmajor425

The Lift

"When I broke my ankle, every single person looked at me on the ground bleeding and walked on. It was really strange to experience. One guy saw me, brought his whole truck around and offered to take me to the hospital. There was already an ambulance coming so I declined, but he sat there and talked to me and told me it's going to be okay."

"He really sticks out. Almost 10 people walked by and minded their business while I was on the ground, my bone sticking out of my leg. He came up and helped. I really hope he's doing okay."

– Rhylain

Drunk Driver

"My husband and I were in a car accident where a drunk guy ran onto the highway and we hit him (in the middle of the day, just bolted in front of the car)."

"We sat there in a smashed up car with a dead body lying behind the car for 15 minutes before a car stopped and helped us. Neither of us could speak because of the shock. This lady saw us in the car and made her husband come back around so she could help. Hundreds of cars passed, she was the only one who stopped. She called the police and ambulance, and waited until they arrived. Really grateful for her and her husband."

– Smart-Connection6154

Got Milk

"When I was in the 1st grade I lived about 3/4 block from the corner store. I'd learned to ride my bike and previously had been sent on foot to buy milk or similar simple purchases."

"Sent with a buck to buy 1/2 gallon of milk, I rode my bike. Purchase made, with the milk and change in a paper sack, I attempted to ride my bike and promptly ate sh*t, the milk bottle rupturing in the paper sack and going everywhere."

"Picking up myself, bike, soaked sack, and coins, I started to cry."

"A stranger asked me if I was ok. I was. He bought me another 1/2 gallon of milk. I walked home with the milk returning later to fetch my bike."

"This is the first time I've ever told anyone."

– DogeBisquits

Extreme Compassion

"A lady in the parc with her husband passing by, both well dressed, there was a guy sitting, didn't look homeless but looked like he didn't shower for a while, wasn't crying then but his face suggests he had been crying his eyes out."

"The lady got on her knees, spoke to him and hugged him, she kept hugging him and conforting him. Her husband didn't like that and kept telling her that they should be going, she just gave him a cold stare and kept hugging the sad dude."

"I fell in love with that lady right then."

– KuroOni

Check This Out

Cashiers witnessed charitable acts from these panicked customers.

Card Denied

"When I was 20, I worked at a fabic/craft store. A lady came to the register to checkout with probably $100+ worth of stuff. It was all like... just random cuts of fabric, paint, assorted craft supplies. A LOT of stuff."

"Her card got declined, and she looked really upset. Started putting it all back in the cart, trying to determine what she could pay for. The lady behind her in line just stepped forward and said 'put it all back, I'll pay for it.' Put her card in the reader and the first lady started crying, quietly thanking her."

"The cynical side of me thinks it was a scam by the lady to get free sh*t, as I'd definitely seen that before. (Another woman a few weeks before literally said 'can anyone pay for me?') But the good part of me believes that lady just needed a little bit of happiness in her craft supplies during a hard time. The lady who paid for it just did so with no hesitation."

– complacentviolinist

Battery's On Me

"Working at the register and this guy's car battery was shot, his bank froze his card so he couldn't pay. This other guy seeing what's going on walks up and pays for the battery then walks out as I'm telling the first guy his battery has been paid for."

– ChaosHerald666

Picking Up The Tab

"I met a guy at the bar who insisted to pay for my dinner. I didn't know why really. He also insisted I pay for somebody else's and it would be just like him buying them dinner. He said if everyone I meet pays it forward life will he better for everyone. I did pay it forward."

– Endless_Vanity

While there are plenty of cruel people in what can be a cruel world, there are just as many of us whose goal is to help others.

These saints among us who put the needs of other people first should serve as a reminder that we too should pay it forward.

I may not have large pieces of wood to help out a motorist in distress, but I would help them get assistance for sure.

Because if it weren't for that chivalrous gentleman who helped my mom drive off the curb on that fateful day, we would have had cold chicken for dinner.