A Happy Meal and a Heart Full of Sorrow

After a long, exhausting day, I stopped at McDonald’s hoping for something familiar and easy.   While waiting for my order, I noticed a mother and her young daughter step inside, hand in hand. Their clothes were worn but clean, and despite their modest appearance, the little girl’s excitement at the menu was unmistakable. When…

A Happy Meal and a Heart Full of Sorrow

The little girl didn’t ask for much — just a toy, just a spark of joy to end her day. But her mother’s pause said everything: the thin coat pulled tight against the cold, the tired eyes doing quiet math, and the soft “Maybe next time” that felt more like a door gently closing. Before…