It was a week worth remembering, especially for a family man from Florida named Rob Edwards. He had recently celebrated 21 years of a happy marriage with his wife, and he couldn't be happier.
But there was yet another upcoming event headed his way, and it had him over the moon. When the unexpected event took place, it took Rob a while to come to terms with what had happened.
Family Man
Rob and his wife were truly happy in their lives. During every setback they remembered that they could rely on each other when times got hard. And when times were good, they got to share in the celebration together. And luckily, the couple and their two kids had plenty to celebrate.
Someone to Rely On
Rob and his wife decided to have children together when they were still pretty young, so they were stunned that their oldest son was already graduating high school. This momentous occasion marked the beginning of a new chapter in all of their lives, but there wouldn't be an easy transition.
What Fate Has in Store
Rob loved his children. They were his life. And his eldest son, Cole, had just finished high school. So everyone was enthusiastically preparing for his graduation ceremony.
However, Rob could have never imagined what fate had in its books for him. Something was about to happen that would change the course of his life forever.
Going To The Bank
On graduation day, Rob started his day early so he could finish everything that he had to do before the ceremony. His first stop was the bank so he could pick up a gift that his son really deserved. But he had no idea that the events of the day would soon have him questioning if he could even get to his son's graduation ceremony on time.
The Bank Wasn't Very Busy
When he arrived at the bank, he noticed that there weren't many people there. But even if the line had stretched around the entire block, he wouldn't have cared. He would've waited hours to make sure that he could give his son a gift that he could really use. He couldn't wait to see the look on his son's face when he handed him his investment.
Polite
Rob was in such a good mood that when he saw a lady rushing to get inside the same bank, he opened the door for her with a huge smile and told her that she could jump ahead of him in the queue.
The woman, at first, was a bit reluctant. She initially thought that Rob had to be up to something fishy.
Kindness Is Rare
But after staring at him for a while, she muttered “thank you.” She lingered before the open door, fiddling with her bag and glancing from the cashiers' desks to the exit.
Granted, acts of kindness were rarer than they should be, but the simple act of letting her go ahead seemed to shock her more than most people.
Waiting
After a few more awkward moments, she finally gave a small, nervous smile to Rob and thanked him for his kindness. After that, it was the standard chit-chat between strangers trying to pass the time. It was the standard cycle of topics - weather, traffic, and whatnot.
The woman half-listened, nodding ... and continually glancing at the long line of employees counting wads of cash.
Anxious
Maybe she was in a hurry? Or there were a lot of things on her mind. Rob tried not to judge other people before he got to know them, but he couldn't help wondering what this woman was planning on doing while she was at the bank today. Because during the wait, he couldn't help but notice the white-knuckle grip she had on her bag.
He Couldn't Ignore Her
Rob tried to avert his eyes and focus on his own life, but he couldn't help but notice every time the woman fidgeted and checked her bag again. Rob set his sights straight ahead of him at the clerk and told himself to ignore the woman, but then Rob noticed something else that let him know that there had to be something wrong. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead.
Their Conversation Changed Her Mood
"Today, my son graduates. I’m slowing down and want to savor every minute,” Rob told the woman. "Oh yeah? He must be excited," she said, finally joining the conversation.
It seemed like the lady was easing up now. But right then, Rob noticed her doing something. Her hand went down to her pocket and gripped something inside.
Finding Common Ground
Rob decided to continue talking about his family because it was the thing that he loved the most in his life, and it seemed like the woman responded well to talking about family. Her nerves seemed to fade a bit, although she was still fidgeting more than most people do in the bank.
Uh-Oh
Rob told her more about his family and the big, upcoming event. He couldn't help it. The joy was bursting to get out. He reached for his phone, eager to show off photos of his eldest child.
But he was so excited and over the moon that the juggling made him drop his money clip and credit card bundle on the floor.
She Took Action
The woman acted first. She bolted to the ground faster than necessary and grabbed Rob's wallet. "Sorry," she said as she scooped up the items and looked Rob right in the eyes. "Force of habit."
"It's so wonderful your boy is graduating,” she said. Then, she muttered something else. “I would do anything to make sure my boy has the same future." She hesitated, still holding his belongings.
She Didn’t Let Go
"I completely understand. I'm here to get him something for the big day." He wanted to take out a stack of bills and watch the look on his son's face as he counted them.
It was going to be fun money for him to splurge on whatever he wanted. But he needed his card, and she was still gripping it tightly.
Next In Line
She finally handed his things back with another nervous smile and a couple more beads of sweat. A free cashier called for another customer.
The woman thanked Rob once again and scurried for the desk. But their interaction was far from over. He would never be prepared for what this woman had done... and was about to do.
Visibly Agitated
The woman clumsily brought out a stack of papers and a bank book. Her face had gone white, and she looked as if she was about to fall over.
Why was she so agitated? Was there something wrong? And right then, Rob noticed her hand go down to her pocket again, this time shoving it deep inside.
Her Strange Behavior
She glanced back at Rob again, then quickly looked away. Even if he was utterly happy, he couldn't help but notice her very strange behavior. She was fidgeting around and even her voice was noticeably stuttering every few words. And it was about to get worse.
He Watched Her Closely
Her behavior only got weirder when she leaned in and whispered something to the cashier. Whatever it was, it made the employee's eyes turn wide in surprise. Had Rob just witnessed something that he would regret having seen later?
His Turn
Rob was intrigued, but he couldn’t keep watching. It was finally his turn. He approached the employee's desk and completed his transaction with a big smile on his face. Every minute, he was closer to his kid’s graduation, or so he thought.
However, that smile wouldn't last for long, as what was about to happen next would shock him to the core.
Request Denied
He slipped his card to the cashier and asked for the sum in 10s - it would be more fun for his boy to count that way. But the cashier suddenly looked at her screen with wide eyes.
Then, he said something that left Rob absolutely puzzled. "I'm sorry, sir. I can't give you that amount."
Baffled
Rob stared back, wondering what the problem was. He was sure he had enough in his account. He had triple-checked before he left! Maybe there was a daily limit on his card that he wasn’t aware of?
But there was even more coming his way. The other worker came over and slipped him a note. "It's from the woman, sir," he said.
A Note From a Stranger
Rob had been doing errands for decades and he had never had such a strange experience at the bank. For one thing, the bank teller never denied his simple requests! And also, he couldn't remember the last time he met an interesting stranger who came bearing gifts. But what did the note have to say?
Her Words
If the man wanted to know what was inside it, he would have to open the envelope. He took a sigh and detached the seal nervously. He wondered what did the lady say to him while passing by. He should have paid more attention.
Suspicions
He turned to see the woman rushing out of the bank. What was going on?! It was then the panic set in. As if struck by an unspeakable gut feeling, he reached for his money clip and card bundle again.
She had scooped it up, but had she grabbed it for a different reason than just giving it back to him?
The Note
All the cash was there. And so were the cards. Thank God. The answer had to be on the slip of paper she had given him. But whatever she wanted to tell him, why didn’t she just say it?
He quickly opened it and gasped at the brief message that looked like it had been scribbled in a hurry.
At the Ready
Rob’s mind had played out every scenario before he had opened up the envelope. He was, after all, in a bank. He glanced desperately over to the doors and was relieved to see two uniformed security guards standing there–just in case.
Thankfully, he wouldn’t need their assistance just yet. But the contents of the envelope were so completely unexpected that he took a double-take.
Like A Fever Dream
Next, the cashier slipped him a plain white envelope. He couldn’t believe what was happening. It all felt like a fever dream, but it was real.
He stood there, speechless, trying to put the pieces together that had led to this unforgettable moment. What exactly was going on there? The words scrawled across the paper burned into his brain.
“Sorry”
The reason for the odd behavior was now clear. "I'm so sorry. I suffer from anxiety, and it's hard for me to be out of the house. I didn't mean to be rude. Thank you for your kindness. Congratulations on this wonderful day."
Rob was relieved to know that there wasn’t anything wrong with the woman. But what was in the envelope?
Had She Planned This?
Rob was so confused by the woman's strange actions. One second she was fidgeting and nervous, and the next moment she was striking up a conversation and giving him a letter. How was she prepared to give anything to a man who she had just met?
He Couldn’t Believe It
He stood there staring at the contents for a good minute before he could finally speak. He couldn’t believe what was in front of him. But it was real.
The two employees assured him it was real, and even if it was something they had never seen before, there was nothing wrong with keeping what he was holding.
He Couldn't Keep This
As Rob glanced in the envelope, the first thing that came to his mind was that he couldn't keep its contents. One thing was for sure, he couldn't let this woman get away with just leaving this envelope in his hands without even saying a single word to him! So, he decided to take action and find her before she could get away with what she had done...
Why?
He felt the joy turn into a new level that brought tears to his eyes. It was money - $200! But he still couldn't understand why.
The apology note was already more than enough. The lady had already left the bank, but Rob needed answers, so he did the only thing he could do: he ran out the door.
Chasing Her
Rob scanned the street. She was already pulling away. He bolted at full speed, waving his arms and trying to get her attention before she disappeared.
Thankfully, at the last minute, she saw him and stopped the car. Rob braced himself. However, he could have never predicted what the lady was about to say to him.
He Couldn’t Accept It
When Rob approached the woman, and after catching his breath from running, he said, “I can’t take this!” It was simply too much for just a polite gesture. He couldn’t accept it.
He tried to hand back the envelope through her window, but she pushed it back, insisting he keeps it. "But why? You don't need to do this."
An Explanation
The woman explained how she was well aware that her condition made people uncomfortable. Going out to the bank was a big step for her.
But even if she had been a bit "off," Rob's words had touched her in a very deep way. As a mother, she understood what he was feeling, even if she had trouble showing it.
Blessing
“When you talk about your boy, you glow. You’re a blessing to him, I want to bless him too”, the woman explained. She gave a genuine smile and nudged the envelope back again. It was clear to Rob that she meant what she said.
Rob wiped away another tear. But that conversation wasn’t over yet. There was just one more question.
What Was In Her Pocket?
It was none of his business, but what was in her pocket? She chuckled and pulled out a little figurine of an angel. Her son had given it to her for when she needed comfort in difficult times.
Rob thanked her over and over again and begged to take a picture together. She obliged, and they went their separate ways.
The Big Day
The time for the graduation ceremony came, Rob was overjoyed and couldn't stop smiling. He was so proud of his son, but what had added to his happiness was the incident with the woman.
He couldn't get it out of his head, so he made a post on Facebook about it. The response was CRAZY!
Sharing Their Story
Rob started off his post, "I do not know this woman! But my heart was touched by her." He continued by telling the entire story of their meeting at the bank and concluded by recommending that everyone try to improve a stranger's day if you possible can. You might both be able to help each other for the better!
Rob posted this story to share with his family and friends, and he never expected the response he would get.
Response
Everyone loved that story, and there were countless comments. “First of all, kid, I can’t believe your boy is 18!”
“Second, I’ve been thinking a lot about the transformational power of love and kindness. Our life is like a vapor…it is here, and then it’s gone. Thanks for sharing your blessings…” somebody commented on Rob's post.
More Comments
A Facebook friend of Rob's also wrote, “The whole point of life right here! And it could not have happened to a more deserving person. Great story Rob Edwards!”
“And so well told, as per usual,” he continued. “When you write a book, look me up. I reckon I got a few titles for you already!”.
Touched
Rob couldn't hide how much the woman's action had touched him and how grateful he was. “I was so touched. I don’t know her name, I’ve never ever seen her before. But I will never forget her love. I asked to take a picture with her.
And hugged her neck. We need more of this in the world today,” Rob wrote, “…not the money. But kindness. I hugged a complete stranger today. My son, who I love with all my heart, was shown love,” he said.
Heartwarming
The proud father’s post continued: “Many of you who know me know what I believe in. Sounds kinda familiar, doesn’t it? It warms the father’s heart to love the son.”
“I am blessed. Cole Edwards, I’m so proud of you! To my bank customer friend. THANK YOU!” Rob added. But there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
Angels Among Us
People from all around the world in the thousands shared their thoughts on Rob's Facebook post and complemented him for his actions. Even strangers felt free to say that they were proud of the man's kind actions when he very well could've been dismissive and rude instead.
Even people who never expected to come across this story had their lives changed by this miraculous event.
Random Acts Of Kindness
A heart-warming fact is that in the US, there is an entire day dedicated to doing random acts of kindness: that’s the 17 of February.
That day you just choose a random act of kindness, and you perform it for a stranger just to help them and brighten up their day. But that's not all.
The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree
Rob's family was so happy that he was getting attention online for truly being himself. Even his son couldn't resist from commenting on his father's post to share his support.
But this isn't the only time something like this has happened, and once Rob shared his story, the floodgates were open for other people to share their unique stories of surprising kindness.
More Comments
There were more comments on Rob’s post. “What a precious story! Thank you for sharing! God bless her for sharing love and being an example of what love looks like. We need more love in the world!!!” wrote another user on Rob's post.
The funny thing was that through the comments, we found a similar story to Rob's.
Another Story
Another strange and heart-warming story was told by an Imgur user named "gingersnap1316". The user claimed that while she was at home alone, someone rang her doorbell.
When she opened the door, she didn't recognize the man standing in front of her. Immediately, she got an eerie feeling. Then the stranger asked her something really weird.
How Did You Find Me?
The young woman answered the door as she would have for anyone who knocked. But she soon got an eerie feeling when she realized that she had just opened the door for a complete stranger. What was he doing at her home and how did he get her address? He answered her confused stare by simply stating, "Are you Karen?" which shocked the young woman more than anything else he could have said.
“Are You Karen?”
“Are you Karen?” the stranger asked her. “I told him no, that Karen was my mom, and he gave a quick smile and handed me an unmarked envelope and walked away. I get inside and open it up.”
What was inside the envelope shocked her. It was $1,000 in cash , along with a letter! But what was that for?
The Letter
The young woman read the letter inside the envelope as quickly as her eyes would allow her. She was so surprised to have been handed the letter. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before, and she certainly hadn't been expecting this to happen today on all days. She had just been through a terrible experience and lost her job as a result, so the gift was very well received.
Random Kindness
The letter read, “Please accept this gift as an act of random kindness. A cherished member of our family devoted much of her time and resources to helping people through ‘Random Acts Of Kindness’.” The young woman had no warning that she would be receiving a gift, and it had come to her just in time.
A Family Member's Legacy
“She gave to others in many ways and always did so anonymously. One way our family has chosen to honor her memory is to continue in the tradition of helping others in the community with acts of random kindness,” the letter wrote. The young woman knew exactly what to do with the gift she had been given...
A Gift
The young woman used her gift in part to help ease her living situation between jobs, and as soon as she was hired to a new position, she decided to pass on the kindness. She decided to do the same thing in the same manner for another total stranger, and knocked on the door with an envelope and a story just as the man had done to her before.
Doing Right
“A ‘Random Act Of Kindness’ does not have to involve the giving of money. It can be as simple as sharing your time with someone, lending an ear, or offering a compliment,” the letter continued.
“The most important part is that the act is unsolicited and done so with no expectation of anything in return.”
A Way of Living
These small acts of kindness in turn created a lot of joy for the people who experienced them, and most of them decided to give back to other people in some ways. It becomes a way of living for the people who decide to share their excess with others.
But some of these stories end up causing people more trouble than they ever expected. Thankfully, plenty of people document their stories as a warning for unsuspecting victims.
Not The Only Ones With This Idea
There are people and groups across the country and around the world that share unexpected gifts with total strangers just for the sheer joy of giving. But there are also more malicious people out there.
Always be careful before accepting a strange gift, because some people aren't out to help others. There are plenty of stories of people pretending to be charitable when in reality, they're the one looking for a hand out...
It Doesn’t Always Go Well
Every kind act has a huge impact on someone, and it's really nice whenever we can to help someone in need. So be kind, and the faith in humanity will be restored!
However, these types of acts don’t always turn out good. Some say that if you give love, you’ll get love in return, but others think differently and believe “no good deed goes unpunished” to be a more accurate saying. That’s what happened in the following story:
The Story Of Ray
Ray, a 21-year-old student at Temple University, Philadelphia, was walking down the street one morning when something absolutely baffling happened to him.
He thought he was doing a good deed, and that was enough to make him happy. He didn’t expect anything in return. However, his act would turn out to bear some undesirable consequences he wasn’t ready for.
Third Year
It was Ray’s third year in college, and he was totally enjoying it. The young man was born and raised in Wall, New Jersey. Although he wasn’t that far from home, moving to Philadelphia had been a total change of scenery for him.
Back in his hometown, he often felt bored. There weren’t many things to do, and he had never been a social butterfly during high school. That changed when he moved to Philly.
Changes
For the first year, it was a little hard for him to get used to his new environment. He was a little nervous about the whole change, and it took him a while to adjust and make new friends.
However, by the end of the year, he couldn’t be more satisfied. He had a group of friends, and he was doing fun things every weekend. But the city also had its own problems.
North Philly
Ray lived in the North part of the city, where some neighborhoods were less recommendable than others. Ray had never had a serious problem, but sometimes there were some antics going on near where he lived.
By his third year, he had seen all types of things. But nothing came close to what happened to him that morning.
End Of The Month
The month of February was approaching its end, and Ray was still waiting for his pay from the restaurant where he worked part-time.
Saying that he was a bit tight money-wise would have been an understatement; the young student only had a little more than $50 to cover his expenses until the end of the month.
Tight Budget
That morning, he was walking around his neighborhood while mentally planning his budget for the next few days. He really could use a little more money. But how could he get it?
She was so absorbed by his thoughts that he almost didn’t notice the senior woman that was walking ahead of him. He didn’t know that she was about to make his day take a wild turn.
A Senior Woman
The woman was a few feet ahead of Ray. She was walking really slowly, even with the help of her cane. Ray thought about walking up to her and asking if she needed any help to get somewhere.
But right before he could do that, something happened. When he saw it, Ray instantly knew he had to act fast.
Her Wallet
All of a sudden, Ray saw something falling from the woman’s pocket. He couldn’t see it from a distance, but as he walked forward, it became more and more evident what it was.
It was a brown leather wallet. The lady had just kept walking and didn’t seem to have realized what had just happened. Ray picked it up from the floor.
What Would He Do?
In Ray’s circumstances, more people than we would like to think would have just looked inside the wallet, seen if there was any money, and kept it to themselves.
But not him. He may have been struggling, but he would have never been capable of such an act. So he just ran up to the woman, unaware that his good deed wouldn’t turn out the way he expected.
Doing Right
“Ma’am! Excuse me!” Ray said. The lady instantly turned back and stared at him with a puzzled expression. “Your wallet just fell from your pocket,” the student said, handing it to her.
“Oh, thank you, young man,” the woman said with a smile. She took it from Ray’s hand and then opened it. What was she trying to do?
A Compensation?
Ray thought she was going to offer him some compensation for his good deed. For a hot second, he felt tempted to accept it, but he thought twice.
It wouldn’t have been right to accept the woman’s money. After all, he just did what any decent person would have done. He opened his mouth to reject whatever the woman was about to offer. But then, the woman said some words that made his heart skip a beat.
Speechless
“You sneaky, nasty boy! You just stole my money!” the woman yelled. “I had $3000 in here! Where are they?” she screamed at Ray with a furious expression on her face.
Ray couldn’t believe what he was hearing. What was the woman talking about? But then, the woman said something else that left Ray absolutely speechless.
Threats
“Don’t think I’m scared of you! You better give me my money right now, or I’m gonna call my grandson so he can teach you a lesson!” she yelled. “Just give me my money, and you can go!”
Instantly, Ray felt in his gut that there was something fishy about the whole situation. Without saying a word, he brought out his phone and dialed a number. “What are you doing?” the woman yelled.
Calling The Police
“I’m calling the police,” Ray said. “I didn’t steal your money. There are security cameras around here, so I think it will be better if we let the police handle this and see who’s in the right.”
When she heard that, the woman’s face instantly turned pale. Without saying a word, she turned around and walked away. But Ray stayed there and waited for the police.
It Was A Scam
Soon enough, two police officers made their appearance. After hearing Ray’s story, they told him it wasn’t the first time they had encountered something like this.
It was a common scam they had been seeing more and more often in the streets of Philadelphia. A lot of people felt intimidated and, even if they didn’t have the money, went to an ATM to give the scammers what they demanded. Luckily for Ray, he didn’t fall for the trick.
In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.