Readers share stories about inspiring strangers

From words of comfort to offering an umbrella on a rainy day, strangers have the power to change people and profoundly affect the way they lead their lives. NBC's Mike Leonard asked TODAY viewers to submit their stories of how a stranger they never got to thank helped them. Read about how random acts of kindness had big impacts:

It was Mother's Day about five years ago, and as I was a single mother at the time, my daughter wanted to do something special for me. I asked her what she wanted to do and she said to go out for breakfast. At the time, money was tight, and I knew I really couldn't afford it, but I saw the look in her eyes as she wanted to do this with me, so I caved. One of her favorite places to go was a local truck stop, which she thought had the best food. As we were sitting there an older gentleman and someone who I assumed was his son or grandson kept on watching my daughter and me, which made me a little nervous. They struck up a polite conversation with us, nothing out of the ordinary, asking what we were doing there, how old she was, what grade she was in and all the normal questions a grandfather would ask. Then he asked her what she was doing at the restaurant. Of course my daughter proudly announced that she was taking her mother out for Mother's Day breakfast. The older gentleman asked her how she was going to pay for it, and she looked at me and giggled and said, "My mom is paying."

As I went up to the buffet to get more food I kept my eye on her and the two gentlemen. When I returned, the two gentlemen had left. I asked her where they went and she said that they had left. The waitress brought us our check and I went to pay and my daughter grabbed the check and said that she was paying, I asked her how she intended to do this, and she said, "That nice older gentleman gave me money and told me to pay for breakfast." I looked around, in and outside of the restaurant and could not find either of the two gentlemen who sat beside us. I never found them so that I could thank them for the wonderful gesture that they had done. It was the most memorable Mother's Day ever. It showed my daughter that there are nice and giving people and gave me a renewed confidence that there are nice people in this world.
—Anonymous, Lewisberry, Pa. (submitted on Sept. 19, 2007)

My dog, whom my husband and I had since he was a puppy, had grown ill and had been unable to use his hind legs for a few months. He dragged himself around as best he could. One evening, I picked him up from a grooming appointment. It was dark, snowing, and cold. He weighed about 100 pounds, the same as me. I could not get him up the ramp from the sidewalk into the back of my SUV. I felt so sad because he was tired and couldn't lift himself. I was afraid to hurt him. I pushed and pulled him with no success in getting him into the car. I began to cry at the sadness and hopelessness of it and because this previously strong dog was now so weak. A woman, much bigger and stronger than me, approached my car. She told me her dog had gone through something similar. She then helped me gently lift him into the car and settle him on his blanket for the ride home. I thanked her and saw tears roll down her face and she left. My dog died just two months later, but I will never forget how that woman helped me and my sweet dog.
—Anonymous, Aurora, Colo. (submitted on Sept. 19, 2007)

When I was in college, a couple of friends and I drove up to Washington, D.C., for a long weekend one February. It was so warm when we left North Carolina that we almost didn't take jackets, but the weather took a drastic turn just before we started back home. As we were leaving D.C. we started seeing a few snowflakes, but since we were headed south, we thought we'd run out of the snow quickly. What we didn't know was that a major winter storm was rolling in from the south — a big low-pressure area pulling moisture from the Atlantic.

By the time we were halfway through Virginia, the snow was so deep we couldn't see the highway, and we were passing abandoned cars stuck by the side of the road. This was the ’70s — no cell phones, no On-Star. We were in trouble. We pulled off the highway to get gas in Ladysmith, Virginia — no town in sight, worried that we wouldn't be able to continue. The gas station attendant took all three of us into his home, where we spent the night with his family (including five Dobermans — the sweetest dogs I've ever seen). They shared their food, shelter and video games with us, and in the morning after the storm had passed, plowed their long driveway so we could be on our way. Of course, we were all grateful and expressed that profusely, but I think of our guardian angel from time to time, and I can't pass the Ladysmith exit now without another little prayer of thanks.

—Rosemary Karalius, Moncure, N.C .(submitted on Sept. 19, 2007)

My bank account was negative $300 (paying bills and my card number was stolen) and I was working three jobs while taking 18 credits along with an internship my sophomore year of college. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get all of my schoolwork done because my money problems were weighing down on me more and more. It eventually got to the point where I would work until the early A.M. hours and have to get up for an 8 A.M. interview recording for the internship. The day came when it was my most important interview in the entire semester and I had slept through my alarm and missed it. The two others I took the internship with kicked me out and claimed that I was a slacker. If only they knew. I tried to speak to my advisor about it, but he didn't understand either. I just broke down and ran out of the building. I sat down on the step and just drifted off, wondering what my life was going to be like with no money and failing my college courses because I was trying to earn that money back.

I guess I looked pathetic because a few minutes later this man sat down and asked what was wrong. Not thinking, I just told him everything that had happened to me and started crying all over again. We talked a bit longer and all I really remember is just telling him my name and age. A few days later I went to get the mail for my apartment when I found an extra envelope addressed to me that wasn't, for once, a bill. When I opened it, there was a letter that said "The church that I'm a pastor at would like to send you this gift and we wish you luck in all you do." Inside the envelope was an extra piece of paper which was a check for over $600!! The letter wasn't signed and I couldn't read the signature on the check, but the church was on it and that was enough for me to know it was real. Now, I'm not a religious person, but that day, I think I met a true angel, and if there is the chance that he would read this, I would like to thank him. Not only did he get me out of the negatives, but it even made me think about what I wanted to do with my life.

I'm working full time at a local television station now and I'm getting ready to go to recording school for radio broadcasting. Even though I dropped out of college, I believe that it was the right decision and there are some people out there who just aren't made for continuing education. To that pastor out there who helped me, thank you so much for everything!
—Anonymous, Ephrata, Pa. (submitted on Sept. 19, 2007)

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