15 Times Kindness Showed Up Exactly When It Was Needed

Kindness does not usually arrive when life is calm. It shows up when people are exhausted, ashamed, grieving, or close to giving up. These are not big heroic moments. They are small choices that change how someone survives a bad day, a bad year, or a bad life chapter.

• I was 6 months pregnant with my eldest son when I was returning to the States from Korea. This is a 14-hour plane ride over the Pacific Ocean, and we experienced quite a bit of turbulence. This caused me to have several bouts of nausea, one after another. Unfortunately, I was also in the middle seat.
  The gentleman sitting beside me in the aisle seat was such an angel. Instead of getting upset about me getting sick into the air sick bag (no time to run to the bathroom), he simply took my now full bag, handed me the one from his seat pocket and called the flight attendant over to request more bags.
  He took my then-second full bag and handed me a third. Once it settled down and the bags were picked up and disposed of, he helped me get to the bathroom so I could clean myself up.
  That was almost 25 years ago, and I’ll never forget him helping a very young and extremely scared 19-year-old me through that ordeal. I hope he is doing well and knows how much his kindness meant to me. — © PinkHairandInk / Reddit
• I was traveling on NYE and ducked out of a winter storm that closed the pass near Vail, CO. My van got stuck in loose slushy snow in a parking lot and I was having a devil of a time getting out. I’d tried shoveling and recovery boards, but the snow was over ice and I just couldn’t get traction. At one point I stopped and had a cry.
  Finally, a group of NYE partygoers stopped and pushed me out. It was such a relief. Made me think of Mr Rodger’s “look for the helpers”. There are some truly kind people out there. — © False-Impression8102 / Reddit
• I was 19 and about to drop out of college because my exam fees went up unexpectedly. My dad had just lost his job and I was already working nights. While standing in line at the admin office, I was visibly upset.
  The man in front of me turned around, asked what happened, and quietly paid the full amount. He did not want his name mentioned. He just said he once dropped out and wished someone had helped him. I finished my degree because of that moment. — © Sheila / Bright Side reader

• I was crying in an airport and this lady gave me $40. She said that she was about to head home after a very long and stressful day of traveling and overheard that we were stuck in the airport after a flight cancelation. She was so grateful to be home and when she saw me going through the same thing she wanted to buy me some breakfast. — © kittyqueenkaelaa / Reddit
• One miserable, wet slushy morning, my baby was sick and we needed groceries, milk, and her prescription. I got the groceries and meds and as I shoved my cart through the sloppy parking lot, my jug of milk toppled onto the ground and exploded.
  A woman saw me and picked the jug up for me and said, “You can go back in and they will get you a new one.” And I replied, “Thank you, but my baby is sick and I just need to get her home,” and started buckling her into her carseat and unloading the rest of my groceries.
  Right as I was finishing up, the same lady came rushing out of the store and handed me a new jug of milk. I was so thankful I was literally crying in the parking lot.
  It’s almost 12 years ago now, and I still think about that lady and her kindness. I hope she is having a wonderful life. — © nevermindthetime / Reddit
• I was in maybe 4th grade and my parents had just had my younger sister, so newborn focused. I went to my school lunch, opened my paper bag (are those still a thing?) and unwrapped the foil holding my sandwich. There was nothing inside. It was actually just 2 slices of dry white slice bread and I was sad.
  Literally my table mates all chipped in various components and made me the most amazing ham and cheese sandwich I’ve ever had. I’ve been chasing that dragon of ham sandwich ever since, but I’m sure it was the response and not the ingredients that I loved. — © I_Am_The_Grapevine / Reddit

• I was dealing with a bad breakup and some days I just could not function. One morning, I messed up a big report and expected to be called out.
  Instead, my coworker fixed it, submitted it, and told our boss it was a team effort. Later she said, “I can see you’re not okay, you don’t owe me an explanation.” — © Paul S / Bright Side reader
• I had a huge fight at home and left with just my backpack. I called a friend crying, not knowing where to go. Her mom welcomed me without asking details, made dinner, and let me stay for weeks. She never treated me like a burden.
  In fact my friend still teases me that her mom treated me better than she treats her own daughter hahaha. To this day, I still call her on holidays! — © Diana / Bright Side reader
• I am seventy-five years old with some disabilities, and my deeply caring friend, on a weekly basis, takes me grocery shopping and to do whatever errands I have. Aside from heartfelt thanks, he will accept nothing in the form of recompense. From time to time, I will buy flowers and/or high-end chocolates for his wife as a thank you.
  His company, outrageously wonderful sense of humor (we are both fast with quips, making for non-stop sparkling conversation) as well as his razor-sharp intelligence and a comprehensive knowledge of world affairs make him, in my view, the perfect companion.
  We have developed a friendship that is probably the best I have ever had. Although we come from vastly different cultures and backgrounds, we discuss everything openly and honestly. He is, in my humble opinion, a bona fide treasure. — © Sorry_Amount_3619 / Reddit

• One time I went to see my friend so we could go for a bike ride. We rode our bikes pretty much the whole day. I left with my bike to take the train because I was so tired and dehydrated. I was almost at the stop where I had to get off when all the sudden I fainted.
  I was so embarrassed and scared so I just got off the train since I made it to my stop. As soon as I got off I sorta fainted again. I just felt like someone grabbing my arm and kinda placed me on the floor smoothly.
  It was a random girl that saw me fainting in the train. She stayed with me until I felt better. Unbeknownst to me, she had called her bf at this point and they both took me home.
  They were so nice and helped me even when they didn’t know me. I never saw her again but I still remember her. Nobody else went to help me but her. — © Whatsgoinoninthere / Reddit
• I had stopped attending therapy because I could no longer afford it. One day, the receptionist told me my outstanding balance had been cleared anonymously. I never found out who it was, but that person probably saved my life.
• There was a woman at the assisted living facility I used to work at that was on hospice. She had lived there for maybe 2 or 3 years prior to this and only had a niece and 2 nephews. The niece lived on the opposite coast but would visit a few times a year. She was so cool.
  So anyways, she ends up dying and the niece came out to settle everything and clean out her room. Before she left, she approached me with an envelope and told me how much her aunt was fond of me and they wanted to thank me for the care that I gave her. I tried to refuse it bc I knew it was money and I could get fired but she insisted.
  I hugged her and put the envelope away. I told my boss about it and we agreed to donate it to the employee fund, but later I opened it and there was like $200 or $300 in there and I just started crying. I had just gone through a miscarriage and was just having a rough time and it really touched me that she thought I deserved that money for just doing my job. — © calicoskiies / Reddit

• I was crying while boarding a plane. My boyfriend had broken up with me and I was going back home to live with my parents because I was pregnant and broke.
  Some woman ahead of me looked back and saw me, did a double take, and stopped in her tracks. When I got up to where she was standing, she asked if I needed a friend. I broke down sobbing, and she grabbed my hand and told me jokes while we walked to the plane door.
  When we got to my seat, she asked the guy beside me if he’d switch with her so she could sit next to me. We talked for the entire 3 hour flight about life, the universe, and everything. It was the kindest, most sincere human interaction I’ve ever experienced.
  (For those who care to know: that baby is 23 now, and the jerk who dumped me is sitting on the other end of my couch rn.🤣) - © Alphaghetti71 / Reddit
• I had just moved to a new city and knew no one. One night, I had a panic attack so intense I thought I was having a heart problem. I sat on the apartment stairs shaking and crying.
  My neighbor, a man I barely knew, sat next to me and talked about random everyday things until my breathing slowed. He stayed until I felt safe. He never mentioned it again. — © Rina / Bright Side reader
• My life fell apart the day my only son, who was three at the time, nearly drowned while my stepdaughter was babysitting him. He survived but was never the same. Everything after that felt unreal—angry, rushed, and out of control.
  My stepdaughter begged for forgiveness, but I kicked her out of the house immediately. No real thought behind it, just pain talking. My husband stayed quiet through all of it, but later divorced me. After that, neither of them ever called me again. Two years went by like that, heavy, silent, and lonely.
  Then one afternoon, a strange lady came to my door. I froze when she said she was there because of my stepdaughter. She introduced herself as my ex-husband’s new wife and admitted she was nervous to come. She told me my stepdaughter was getting married and had wanted us to be there but was too afraid to ask herself.
  Before leaving, she quietly asked if I would consider coming. I thought about it for a long time but I finally went. When my stepdaughter saw us, she broke down and hugged us like she had been holding her breath for years.
  The ceremony was beautiful, and for the first time in a long while, my chest didn’t feel so heavy. I was glad I went—grateful to her new stepmom, whose kindness gave all of us a chance to move on.

Check out our other compilation of kind stories: 12 Stories That Prove Kindness Doesn’t Make You Weak