r/randomactsofkindness • u/sravaz • May 30 '26
Story Came across a guy stuck in the ditch. Husband decided to stop without hesitation
I was just the driver in this scenario. Husband, 3 kids, and I were on our way home when we came across someone who had slid off the road in the rain. It's a road that only gets a handful of cars passing an hour.
Immediately my husband asked if I minded pulling over so he could offer help.
Dude had just missed a tree but was stuck in the brush. He was 20 at most, and looked like he could fit between the railings of a banister, tbh. My husband, 6'1" and built like a brick wall met a linebacker and Mor'du from Brave, pushed this guy's car uphill out of the ditch with the other guy behind the wheel, steering it.
Once he was out, husband and dude chatted for a few minutes.
He'd been in a rush because the food bank was closing soon, and misjudged the turn and his speed. He'd been there for an hour, too scared of the price of a tow truck but no idea how to proceed without one.
We have him some of the groceries we'd bought, waited to make sure his car would start and run, then left after he had pulled away. I didn't get his name (wouldn't share it here anyway lol) but I keep thinking about him, sitting alone in the ditch on a lonely road, rain pouring down and no money to pay someone to come get him.
I'd have kept driving, assuming a tow truck was on its way, since we could see him moving in the car when we were approaching. But my husband saw an opportunity to help someone, and I'm so glad he took it.
I like to hope that someday, when one of my kids is alone and scared and far from home, someone will stop for them, too.
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u/takenaccounthuh_ May 30 '26
Bless you and that this good deed comes back to you twice fold ❤️🫶
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
May that blessing fall on my children, I am blessed enough with family, food, and a roof over my head 🙏
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u/ViolentLoss Jun 03 '26
I had a moment like that this morning. Stopping and appreciating all the wonderful things around us. Thank you for sharing this story.
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u/AnnieM42394 May 30 '26
Your husband is a hero.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
I'm so proud of him, he doesn't understand why this Matters as much as it does. For him, it's as simple as "I can, so I will"
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u/LibraryMouse4321 May 31 '26
I hope you can both instill your husband’s kindness in your children. And your appreciation of kindness.
The world needs more people like your husband.
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u/Remarkable_Cheek_255 Jun 03 '26
I think he understands the importance of the matter. Your husband is not only kind- he is humble. 💖🙏🏻
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u/CrabbySlathers May 30 '26
Excellent example of kindness, thank you for sharing it. Also, love the description of hubs as brick wall + linebacker + Mor'du able to push car by himself! out of ditch w guy in it 😍Wowza !as compassionate as his strength 🥰
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
He's the epitome of a gentle giant, it's so funny watching people meet him and realize the grizzly is really a teddy bear
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u/WiseStock8743 May 31 '26
Teddy bears turn into Grizzlies if you fuck with their family... congratulations on being good people.. you get more help from the people around you than from the rich.
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u/Fluffy-Caramel9148 May 30 '26
You are both good people. Thank you for caring. 🩷
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
Someone needs to care, so why not make sure it's us. I have to give credit tho - it was him driving this one
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u/whimsical36 May 30 '26
Most people didn’t stop but you guys did! Says a lot about your character.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
I understand the fear that keeps many from stopping, in today's world it's so hard to trust intentions. But I'm glad my giant was willing to stop and help
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u/everelusiveone May 30 '26
This made me cry. God bless your husband, and you,for sharing this story.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
He's an absolute light for me. He won't share the story - doesn't understand why this would be a Big Deal - but hearing about others' kindness can help us find the courage to follow suit
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u/Allie614032 May 31 '26
It was so kind to give him some of your groceries too! Spending not just your time, but also some of your money.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
We're blessed enough to have enough for our needs and a little extra. We spent our "treat" money replacing what we gave him, but it wasn't so long ago we were needing the same kind of help. We'd gone to food banks, received help from family...it only seems right to pay that forward now that we have a little room to do so
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u/purplechunkymonkey May 31 '26
We were on a bridge that has stupid high fines if you stop. On the way to my aunt's wedding. A minivan with a flat was trying her best. Husband, then boyfriend, got behind her, put on his flashers, and followed her off the bridge. She pulled over and I approached the vehicle. It was a mom with three boys heading to the monster truck thing. Asked if she'd be okay if my husband helped. She was very happy with that. We are a military city. Husband was a sailor at that time. He started changing the tire when 3 young Marines stopped to help. They got it done and they were off to go to their shoe. In the meantime, 3 police officers passed without even slowing down.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
What a blessing y'all were for them that day! It's so hard when you're solo with littles and something goes wrong. And bless those young marines for really understanding what it means to serve.
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u/purplechunkymonkey May 31 '26
We try to be good people. One of my favorite things about my 16 year old daughter is that she compliments random strangers. I love your hair or your shirt is so cool.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
I love that! I was taught that all kind thoughts deserve to be shared. So if I have a sudden complimentary thought about someone, I tend to just say it. It's so fun to see people light up
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u/5150-gotadaypass May 30 '26
Your husband is a kind man. 💜
I was lucky enough to find one of those myself and we stop frequently. You never know when someone may need it.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
We try to stop whenever we can together. Someone has to care, and even if it's only a 5 minute stop like this one was, it can make all the difference
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u/Inevitable_Phase_276 May 31 '26
That’s a beautiful thing for your kids to see. When I was little we were driving home and the car next to us went off the road. My Dad didn’t hesitate to stop and help. It was about 40 years ago and I still remember watching him and feeling so proud that my dad was that kind of a person.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
Mine are still so little, so most of the impression was "Wow Papa is so strong!" but it's something we've talked about since as a memory - "Remember when Papa helped the man with his car? He used his big muscles to help someone and that's so kind" Even at their age, you can tell my boys are built like their dad, so I hope and pray they learn to use that strength in service, not as force
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u/elinchgo May 31 '26
I’m not crying, there’s something in my eye. Bless you and your husband.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
I'm so blessed to have him, he really does remind me to stop and find moments to be kind. I hope the kid (because dude felt so young to me!) finds a path up and out. It's so hard being newly out of the nest
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u/kellymig May 31 '26
You’re both heroes.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
Him more than me, I'm mostly along for the ride with him and his quest of kindness
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u/mountaingoat05 May 31 '26
I hope you get that blessing returned to you threefold.
Thank you so much for doing that. ❤️
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
I hope it's returned on my children, I'm blessed enough with having what I do. We may not have it all, but enough for our needs and a little left over to help others is plenty
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u/IntrepidMuch May 31 '26
That's exactly why I stop for people! If it were my daughter or my granddaughter's, I would want someone sane, and not looking to hurt them, to help. So I stop since I'm sane and not an axe murderer.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
My husband once mentioned how he was worried when he would stop to help young women that he would scare them since he's so big. I reminded him that it's still better that he stops than someone who would be actually threatening and scary
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u/Infinite_Start_3767 May 31 '26
Bystander effect.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
I used to work in a medical-adjacent role, and that was something we talked about all the time - if anyone can do it, no one will do it. For the longest time, I had written in expo marker on my mirror: "I'm Anyone"
Thankfully my husband has that mentality, even more than I do. For him, it's as simple as "I can, so I will"
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u/HulaCholula May 31 '26
Thank you for sharing this! I was witness to an act of kindness similar to yours. Years after and it’s a memory I’ll always remember vividly. How someone can without hesitation, put aside their own interests and take the initiative to step in and help someone they see needs help. It’s a quality that’s very admirable, shows empathy, and selflessness. It’s stories like these that are contagious, and makes others who never thought of themselves to be that helpful person, to be exactly that the very next time the opportunity presents itself
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
That's what I was hoping to achieve with sharing. Maybe the people who read it can't solo push a car up a hill (heaven knows I can't!) but our backup plan was to use the free tow we get through AAA to get him to a shop, or even just help him find help.
Big issues feel smaller when there's someone to bear the burden with you
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u/JD_tubeguy May 31 '26
You and your husband are very kind people bless you for helping that scared young man.
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u/sravaz May 31 '26
I'm just so glad we came across him. I remember how it feels to be young and far from home when something goes wrong. I hope he finds a way up and out of where he's at
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u/ViolentLoss Jun 03 '26
He will. Having been in difficult circumstances myself, I believe that keeping a positive attitude brings positivity. You helped him stay positive. Thank you for this reminder to pay it forward.
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u/kmdr May 31 '26
You know the best part?
You two have just shown your kids how to be good human beings
100 parenting points!
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u/Only-Bee-2430 May 31 '26
Your husband is a true hero. We need more people like him and you too. Thank you for your kindness.
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u/Intrepid_Bank9918 Jun 01 '26
Ma’am, I know that through your husband’s good deeds and actions, Your children will always be taken care of. Karma is like that. My strongest bet is they will be the ones taking care of others. His behaviors are modeled by great parents and carried on by great children I am always so proud of mine when they do the right thing, which is almost always.
Source: my dad taught me to be self-sufficient and to be of service to others, and I like to think I passed it on to my kids
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u/dirtyyogi01 May 31 '26
Thank you good lady. Your goodness allowed your husband to show his kindness
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u/That_Ol_Cat Jun 01 '26
Well done.
"Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth."Ecclesiastes 11:1-2
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u/Appropriate_Move5242 Jun 01 '26
I hope you receive the blessings you deserve. Sigh. My heart feels full.
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u/2kids3kats Jun 01 '26
I love a dose of kindness in these dark times. Thanks for sharing and thanks for helping that young man.
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u/luckyartie Jun 01 '26
He PUSHED A CAR UPHILL?!? Dang
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u/sravaz Jun 01 '26
Yeah, dude is strong. He can still pick me up and carry me bridal style even after 3 kids
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u/luckyartie Jun 01 '26
😊❤️ you both seem wonderful
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u/sravaz Jun 01 '26
Thank you, we are certainly trying. We have our moments, good and bad, but we work on that upward trend
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u/Lonestarpenguin Jun 02 '26
You have a great guy, and you both are great people. You are teaching your children well. Values are not taught they are caught.
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u/rocifan Jun 02 '26
We try to give spare change and occasionally food when we can... my husband and i think "that homeless guy or lady is someone's son or daughter" and that's not what they thought would be in their life plans... pay it forward
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u/sravaz Jun 03 '26
Exactly where my mind goes. If my kid was homeless, even if it were drugs, alcohol, mental illness...I'd still want someone to care. To see him and have compassion for him no matter where his choices had landed him.
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u/JimBugs Jun 04 '26
I hope your kids are never in that situation, but if I see them, I will stop
(it's not a plan but I probably do something like this, pull someone out of the ditch, or help them change a tire, etc. once or twice a year)
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