Woman snaps a family photo... but gets a message she was not expecting days later

Joyce Rhinehart popped to the ice-cream parlour alongside her grandson so she could treat him following his tennis lesson.

But she never imagined that the little trip could turn into something so much bigger than just a kind gesture.

When Joyce and her grandson, Blake, were leaving the store, she spotted a family-of-four sitting on a bench, enjoying their ice-cream cones.

However, like most of us, she didn’t just give a coy smile or nod her head in acknowledgment; Joyce asked if the family would like her to take their photo, which they were happy to accept.

As she did, the grandmother then turned to their daughter allowing her to mail the photo to themselves to keep.

Taking her grandson home, Joyce explained to Blake that this is something she regularly does:

“When I see cute family moments of total strangers [I take a picture] so they can have the memory. Usually, I do this on vacation. I know… I'm weird!”

But Joyce never expected to hear from the family again now that they had the photograph, nevertheless she got a text message one day that she was by no means expecting.

When Joyce opened the stranger’s text, it stated:

“Dear madam, you took our picture in front of Rita's on June 8th. My wife passed away yesterday and this is the last picture we have together as a family.”

“Please accept my deepest gratitude for your kindness, it means the world to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Joyce wanted to share the small act as she firmly believes that you should always go with your gut, and has spoke of her happiness that she took the photograph.

“Never under estimate a simple act of random kindness.”

We’ve welled up a little here, this is utterly remarkable.