I stopped by McDonald’s for a quick meal and overheard a mom talking to her little girl.

One evening at McDonald’s, I noticed a mother and daughter sharing a single hamburger. The mom poured tea from a thermos, and I overheard they’d just come from the hospital. The little girl had never been to McDonald’s before. Touched, I bought them a Happy Meal and quietly left.

Weeks later, I saw them again on a bus. The mom, Carla, recognized me and shared that she was dealing with a chronic heart condition. That small gesture had meant more to her than I ever imagined.

We kept in touch, and when she needed bus fare for a job interview, I helped. She got the job—a part-time role with health benefits. Since then, her life has slowly improved, and we’ve become friends.

Carla later gave me a gift card and a handwritten note, wanting to show her daughter the value of giving back. That single act of kindness created a ripple, reminding me—and now, hopefully others—that even the smallest gestures can change someone’s world.

Let’s keep the kindness going. You never know whose life you might touch.