I stopped at McDonald’s for a quick meal and happened to overhear a mother speaking softly to her little girl.

The child asked, “Can we eat here, please?” They ordered a single hamburger and took a seat at the table next to mine. From her bag, the mother pulled out a small thermos and poured what seemed to be tea for her daughter.

As I sat there, I could hear gentle fragments of their conversation. They had just come from a hospital appointment, and the mother had budgeted just enough money for their bus fare home.