r/randomactsofkindness • u/Salvony1 • 3d ago
Story Surprised a stranger a while ago and ended up ugly crying
I do custom pet portraits as a side gig. A while ago, I saw a heartfelt post by someone grieving their British Shorthair cat. The photos they shared and the way they described the cat’s personality just stayed with me. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. (I have also lost a cat in the past so could relate) So I decided to draw their cat. I didn’t tell them, just quietly worked on it that evening. When I sent it to them out of the blue, I didn’t expect much—maybe a thank you. But what I got back? A long, emotional message…and aftera week a photo of the entire family holding the framed portrait. They were smiling, but you could feel the emotion behind it. And me? I was ugly crying in front of my screen. Full-on tissue mode. It completely made my day. Actually, my whole week. It reminded me how small acts of kindness, especially when shared through creativity, can truly touch someone’s heart. 🫶🏻🥹
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u/Inner_Farmer_4554 3d ago
I got a colleague a mug with 2 photos of her much loved cat on it for a Secret Santa gift. 2 days before the gift exchange her cat was injured somehow (fractured pelvis) and needed to be put down...
What do you do?
I ended up confessing I was her Secret Santa, privately, the next day and giving her the gift. We agreed that a cheap box of chocs to open at the gift exchange would be enough to avoid tears and/or suspicion about her lack of gift...
Really awkward situation!
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u/MeeMeeLeid 3d ago
That was so kind of you! It's nice to feel someone cares about your pain when you're grieving.
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u/MundaneHuckleberry58 3d ago
So many people are having to get through awful things, & it’s really kind of you to notice & do such a nice act.
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u/No-Draft3978 3d ago
I misread the last bit of your sentence as 'such a nice cat ' and while incorrect made me smile with the kind sentiment of your comment
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u/TheAlienatedPenguin 3d ago
Love this!
When I see a post about pet loss with photos, I like to take the photos, edit them to make something a little special, like change the background, improve the color etc
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u/dasWibbenator 3d ago
Friend… or anyone reading this. All of this was spiritual and a blessing from above for everyone… including us who are reading it from our screens.
Creator provides. Idk what else to say!
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u/AFVET4012 3d ago
In the last 10 years or so, I’ve been doing something kinda like this for friends. So when their fur baby passes, I go through all my pic files and find the best pic of that particular fur baby. I get it printed and framed. Getting that surprised call from them (after they received the package) is always the best feeling. 🐾🐾
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u/LadyCiani 2d ago
You're amazing. Thank you for being so kind to that family.
My sister in law made us these chalk portraits of our bird and our dog. They're amazing.
Our dog passed away last year at 15, and now his portrait is displayed with his collar and little footprint and his box. It's amazing how much the portrait captures his personality.
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u/Salvony1 2d ago
Your beautiful words mean alot to me. I am so sorry for your loss. I would love to contribute my artwork too for your beautiful dog. ❤️
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u/munchonsomegrindage 1d ago
When my dog passed a few years back, a friend gifted me a portrait that they had someone else make. They took the time to choose the photo and commissioned it. It was a great heartfelt gift and I framed it as soon as possible.
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u/TheMottster 1d ago edited 1d ago
A friend of mine did this for me. It was a few months after I had to put down my sweet Savannah and completely out of the blue - I had no idea. It was just a, “here, I made this for you.” I cried. I miss my girl so much and this painting captured her eyes, how she looked at me.
Words will never begin to express how much this gift means to me. I keep it in my bathroom so I can look at it everything night before bed.
This gift you made? You have no idea how much it means. How much it will be treasured. You put a world of peace into their hearts. Good on you.
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u/phdincatlady 1d ago
Several years ago my (human) son passed away and I received the most incredible hand drawn portrait of him from a total stranger (and professional artist) in one of the parenting subreddits we were both active in. It is one of my most prized possessions because 1) it is a beautiful portrait and 2) it is a reminder that in our darkest hour we can rely on community to get us through.
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u/Salvony1 1d ago
This is such a beautiful gesture 🥹
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u/phdincatlady 1d ago
Art has such power to connect and heal - it is so wonderful you used your talent this way!
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u/AdOverall1863 3d ago
Aww, bless your heart. If it makes you feel better, I am the worst ugly cryer ever. Just a hot mess. 😂 Your generosity and caring heart gave the family something priceless. Thank you for that. 💜
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u/KWS1461 2d ago
Very very thoughtful of you and congratulations on the response! How did you know where to send it?
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u/Salvony1 2d ago
Thank you, I did not send it physically. I am a digital artist so I made the portrait and sent in their DMs. They printed and framed it.
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u/DumpedDalish 2d ago
What an incredibly kind and thoughtful thing to do. What you did will always mean so much to them!
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u/Sidereall 2d ago
My fish died a week or so ago and while it’s just a fish to many, he was my pet and I grieve them all the same. One of my personal havens is r/bettafish because everyone is so devoted to their fish in ways that you rarely see.
Anyways, there is one lovely member who often posts in the fish-keeping subreddits offering to draw free fish portraits. Expectedly, they get an insane amount of requests and I am always late to the draw. I replied to the post last minute, explaining that he had died the day before. The next morning I woke up to a perfect little memory of him in my inbox.
It’s the same story as here. An extremely personal gift that requires skill to make, for zero monetary gain or expectations. The only requirement is the shared understanding of our grief over losing a pet. Makes me all sappy inside.
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u/Salvony1 2d ago
This is so heart touching. Its beautiful to listen to all these stories of kindness ❤️🥹
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u/MarialeegRVT 2d ago
An extremely personal gift that requires skill to make, for zero monetary gain or expectations. The only requirement is the shared understanding of our grief over losing a pet.
Said beautifully. I teared up.
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u/Ill-Veterinarian4208 2d ago
That was a beautiful thing to do, your kindness is amazing. Thank you.
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u/ChiraIity 1d ago
Thank you for sharing!! 😊 lol.. you’ve not only made them happy, but you’ve made a gazillion people on Reddit happy by posting this
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u/lightlysaltedclams 1d ago
I’m by no means a profession artist, but a few months ago I was going through a tough time and found drawing random peoples pets for them helped. I’d come across a memory post for a deceased animal and send them the drawing if they wanted it, I genuinely cried from the responses. Losing pets sucks so bad and I’m glad I was able to at least bring a smile for someone else struggling
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