The Stranger

Late one rainy night, a man was driving down a lonely road when he noticed an elderly lady stranded on one of the deserted sections of the road. Even though it was dark, the man sensed she needed help. So, he parked his car in front of hers and approached her.

The older woman was concerned about seeing the man because no one had stopped to help her in the past few hours. She was worried that the man would hurt her as he did not seem too well-dressed and the car he was driving looked very old. She concluded that the man must be poor and needy.

The man could see she was scared and understood how she felt. "I am here to help you, ma’am. My name is Bryan Anderson”, he continued, addressing her.

Despite her fear, the older woman decided to share her problem with him, "My car has a flat tire" she responded.

“Ma'am I'll change the tire for you”, the man replied.

The man promptly took his toolbox and began changing the flat tire. The older woman rolled down her car window and started talking to him as he finished.

She introduced herself and expressed gratitude for the assistance. After fixing the tire, the man smiled as he shut the trunk.

“How much should I pay you?”, asked the elderly lady.

The man did not want to get paid because, according to him, this was not his vocation. Instead, he was assisting her in her time of need.

He told her that if she genuinely wanted to repay him, she should help someone in need....“And at that time, think of it as payment for this deed of mine”, the man said.

On the way to her destination, the lady noticed a small cafe a few miles down the road. She pulled over and went in to relax and grab a bite before the final leg of her journey.

After she settled comfortably, a waitress approached her and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. The lady noticed that the waitress was in the later stages of her pregnancy but still working hard with a warm smile. From the way she dressed, the waitress looked like she was somehow making ends meet.

The elderly lady wondered how someone with so little could be so kind and generous to a stranger until she remembered how Bryan Anderson, a stranger, had just helped her.

After finishing her meal, the lady paid the bill. The waitress went inside to get change, but when she returned, the old lady had left.

While the waitress was wondering where the lady was, she noticed something written on the napkin.

Her eyes filled with tears when she read a note on the table.

?“Thank you for your amazing services. You do not owe me anything. Someone helped me without expecting anything in return. If you truly want to repay me, pass on your kindness, and do not let this chain of love end with you.”

There were four hundred dollar bills left under the napkin for the waitress.

Later that evening, when the waitress returned to her house, she was pondering about the generosity and the note from the lady.

She wondered how the woman knew she and her husband needed financial help. With the baby coming very soon, the generous tip was a big help to the couple.

As she slept beside her husband, aware of how worried he was about the future, she whispered into his ears, “Everything will be fine. Today we were blessed by kindness from a stranger. I love you, Bryan Anderson.”

This story reminded me of how love and kindness when given freely, return to one's life, multiplied manifold. I was reminded of the several instances when strangers helped me. Once when I was learning to drive, I had parked my car on a road with a slight slope. I missed putting on the handbrake. As I stepped out of the car, I noticed that it had started sliding backward. I froze. By some stroke of luck, a stranger was walking by. He quickly sensed what had happened. In a flash, he opened the door, pulled the handbrake, and left even before I could thank him. I have never forgotten his kindness.

Did this story remind you of instances where your kindness has come to you in surprising ways?

Did it remind you of acts of kindness that strangers have done for you?

Would love to her what came up for you while reading this story. Wishing you an amazing week ahead ??

Source of the story: All Time Short Stories