Five people experienced the effects of karma in their personal lives, from winning big trips to having their bills paid by a stranger. Their stories proved that karma can be good or bad depending on what you deserve.
The following five stories from Reddit users will make you realize that karma is a real thing. Posting to the platform's AskReddit sub, responding to a call to share instant karma stories, one person relayed how karma humbled them.
Karma written on a stone | Source: Getty Images
OP Wins Big after Father-in-Law Talks Down to His Future Wife
A man revealed how he was out for dinner with his current wife while she was still his fiancée. They were joined by his then-fiancée's father, who mistreated her after divorcing her mother and getting remarried. The original poster's (OP) father-in-law loved his new children more than his daughter.
A man high-fiving a child while another looks on while in the bathroom | Source: Pexels
He gave her drama over many things. On that fateful day, they were rounding off their dinner outing when his father-in-law offered to pay for everything. OP thought it was a nice gesture, and his then-fiancée asked to take a to-go box of her leftovers, leading her father to reply:
"Well, you'll just leave them in the fridge, then they'll just get thrown out."
An angry man sitting on a chair | Source: Pexels
The Reddit user defended his partner by telling her father it wasn't his fridge and to "leave her alone." At that point, the couple lived together. The parent got upset and demanded that OP not tell him how to raise his daughter, and he responded:
"Then don't speak to my fiancee that way!"
An angry man points forward with one finger | Source: Pexels
The older man reacted by throwing the bill and its holder at the OP and said, "FINE!" before ordering him to pay and storming out! He left the couple angry with her, asking OP why he had to start something. The Reddit user paid the bill and waited for the receipt.
Ten minutes passed as they waited; tensions were rising, and her father waited outside, ready to blow up once the couple joined them. OP asked if they could get their bill and leave, but the waiter said they had to wait for the manager.
A waiter walks through a door to bring a customer's order | Source: Pexels
It turned out that the establishment had a contest where "every bill is a winner." What usually happened was that winners received a free drink or an appetizer with their next meal. However, in OP's case, he and his fiancée won the grand prize — a trip for four to Florida!
Karma ensured that the person who paid for the bill got the prize! The second Reddit story that illustrated the power of karma happened to someone a social media platform user knew.
A happy couple embracing outside | Source: Pexels
Woman Leaves Abusive Husband and Ends up Living Her Dreams
The Redditor revealed how her friend's mother, who is 30 and married, always wanted to attend college. At the time, she and her husband were struggling to conceive. While she wanted to take classes, he wished her to focus on getting pregnant.
A man gesturing with both hands while a woman has her eyes closed and hand on her temple during a disagreement | Source: Pexels
The husband was the type of person who regularly put her down for no reason. Whenever she mentioned taking classes, he shot her down and told her she was too old to go to college. He claimed it would be "humiliating" for her to attend with people who were "practically" young enough to be her children.
The wife finally got tired of the abuse and left him, choosing to move in with her parents. She went to college and law school before meeting a doctor and taking legal classes "for fun." They married and had a child!
A happy family of three sitting on a couch holding their country's flag | Source: Pexels
OP revealed the woman's first husband had three unsuccessful marriages after being with her and never had a child of his own. The following story shows how being kind to people can yield great fruit later in life.
Karma Gifts Woman's Friend's Mother Some Money for Her Good Heart
OP revealed that her best friend's mother had always been like a second mother to her since she and the pal were in fourth grade. During the 2018 Easter holidays, the older woman invited OP and her family for dinner.
A family helping to prepare a holiday meal | Source: Pexels
She got the parent figure a gift that included flowers, dog toys for the woman's huskies, a scratch-off ticket, and a thank you card. OP noted how kind the woman always was to her and even wrote the same "sweet motherly messages" she sent to her daughters on the Redditor's Facebook timeline.
That was why OP cried out joyfully when the ticket she bought for the older woman won her $1,000! The younger woman explained how her story wasn't exactly about instant karma since her friend's parent had been good to her for over 16 years.
Woman fans herself with money bills | Source: Pexels
OP felt her story was valid because the older woman won some money instantly. The fourth story illustrates how kindness and patience can attract good karma to you in an instant.
Drunk Man Annoys Patrons, Ends up Blessing Them When They Leave
Someone revealed they had dinner with their uncle and family at a nice Dallas restaurant. Seven people ate and drank wine together while trying to see how much they spent on one dinner. A drunk man from the bar kept frequenting their table.
A man enjoying a drink at a bar | Source: Pexels
The man would make conversation or comment on OP's six-month-old son. By the night's end, the drunk man started annoying the group, and OP's uncle discussed with their table whether he should say something. The patrons told him not to worry about the drunk man and that he was having a good time.
One night, she called him sobbing, barely able to get her words out as she explained she wanted to apologize.
The Reddit user noted that the stranger seemed like a good man. When the time came for them to pay their bill, the waiter said, "Have a nice evening; thanks for coming in." OP and her uncle were confused and asked the server about the bill.
A group of people enjoying a meal together | Source: Pexels
The waiter informed them that the drunk man paid their tab and they couldn't do anything about it. The service person even told them the stranger always cared for people's bills! They were shocked because their bill came up to $1,500!
OP's uncle went to look for the stranger in the cigar room and gave him a huge hug! In response, the man told the uncle that he had a beautiful family and urged him to pay it forward sometime. The stranger even tipped the waiter with a crazy amount, judging by the look the waiter gave OP and her family, with her stating:
"So I learned always be nice to the loud drunk guy in bar (sic), you never know who is a millionaire."
A waiter smiling while standing behind the counter | Source: Pexels
The last Reddit story appeared after someone asked people to share stories that proved karma exists. One man shared his personal story that included him being cheated on by his wife and explained how karma came for her in the end.
Man's Wife Cheats, Karma Gives Her a Dose of Her Own Medicine
The Redditor who replied revealed that he saw karma first-hand after his last conversations with his ex-wife. The social media user explained that his ex-wife left him for another man, saying they were "soulmates" and "destined" to be together.
A couple standing facing in different directions while embracing outside | Source: Pexels
However, after some time, the new couple broke up, and OP's ex settled into a new relationship where she got engaged. One night, she called him sobbing, barely able to get her words out as she explained she wanted to apologize.
The woman revealed her fiancé had been cheating on her, and when she discovered the truth, he (almost verbatim) gave her the same excuses she once gave OP. Ironically, the cheating also happened around the same time of the year, July, when his ex did it to him.
A woman has tears running down her face with her eyes closed | Source: Pexels
The woman explained that she finally understood what she'd done to OP and how he felt. The man's ex-wife expressed her sincere sorrow for everything she put him through because she was facing the same thing!