*Featured image contains photo by Vivaan Rupani
Accidents happen, and they usually occur in the most inconvenient ways or during the worst times. Like when you spill coffee all over your white shirt before a big meeting or trip in front of your crush.
Accidents sometimes cost you a lot of money, which can be frustrating and discouraging. That’s why this story is so sweet: how a stranger reacted to a kid’s accident is amazing.
Why One Boy Couldn’t Stop His Bike From Running Into a Car
A couple of years ago in Turkey, a young boy wanted to ride his bike with his friends, so he didn’t think twice about mounting his broken bike. The brakes weren’t working, but he didn’t want to be left out, so he rode it anyhow.
It was a dangerous idea, especially since they were riding around streets with cars. But when you’re young, you don’t always consider what could happen.
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According to a Reddit user, something did happen. The boy couldn’t stop his bike as he approached a car, and the bike wound up denting the side.
He was scared the angry owner would yell at him and his friends, as any kid would be. Instead, the man did something unexpected.
The Surprising Way One Stranger Reacted to His Dented Car
Rather than jumping to conclusions, the man heard the boy’s story. He was probably concerned that this kid was riding around the neighborhood on a bike with no brakes — after all, denting his car was minor compared to what might have happened.
So, the man decided to do something nice out of the kindness of his own heart. A few days after the incident, he surprised the boy with a brand-new bike.
You can see the kid crying with gratitude in a photo that’s been shared widely online. After all, he probably had no money for a new bike — he couldn’t even fix the brakes on his old one. And it was unexpected for a stranger to just gift him a bike, especially after he dinged that man’s car.
The Heartfelt Reactions Reddit Users Shared Online
After inspired users shared the story on Reddit, many more people poured into the comments to add their thoughts about the sweet gesture. Some even shared their own memories of riding bikes as a kid and recalled the kind strangers who gave them a pass when they accidentally dinged their cars.
“This kind of gesture may set the tone for how this kiddo pays it forward in his own life. We need this kindness in the world, what a great story,” wrote one person. “That’s so nice! Making the world a better place!” added another.
“The world needs more adults to be leaders to the next generation instead of looking down upon them,” one person mused.
“Not just the kid who got the bike and the one who gave him are happy and feeling all those good emotions… the kid’s friends too look so astonished and wonderfully glad for his friend,” another Reddit user speculated of the photo.
“This type of behavior helps to build a disciplined and well-behaved society, the kids learn what is kindness and humanity,” they continued. “Blessings to this old man who did an act of such great selflessness. We need more people like him.”
How One Man Chose to Pay It Forward Instead of Getting Angry
This story resonates because it proves that sometimes if you take a step back and ask questions about a situation, you can learn how to help and improve on a person’s life rather than add to what might already be a bad day.
That kid didn’t run into the car on purpose; he was just being a kid who makes mistakes. This man treated him like a person and understood that mistakes happen, and then took it one step further by helping him to prevent a more serious accident.
It’s also a friendly reminder that when we can, paying it forward always feels good. Whether that’s something small, like buying coffee for the person behind us at the drive-through, or something bigger, like helping a young person pay for their education, these kinds of nice acts inspire others to give back and to pay it forward too.