Airman's Mom Leaves Stranger a Note on McDonald's Receipt: 'I Can't Buy Him Breakfast So I Bought Yours'
One mom got a sweet surprise Sunday morning when a stranger paid for her son’s meal at the McDonald’s drive-thru. However, when she discovered the reason behind the stranger’s thoughtful gesture, she knew she had to find a way to say thank you.
Heidi Goforth was buying breakfast for her son at a McDonald’s in Tennessee when the cashier told her that her meal had already been paid for.
Surprised, Goforth took a look at the receipt.
On it, the stranger had written, “My son is in the Air Force. I can’t buy his breakfast so I bought yours. Have a blessed day.”
Moved, Goforth shared a photo of the receipt in the Facebook group Hip Hermitage.
“I just had this happen to me,” she wrote. “It touched my heart.”
“I was buying breakfast for my son at McDonald’s and the sweet lady in front of me, in the drive-thru, paid for my meal.”
Goforth wanted to thank the woman for her family’s sacrifice and courage. Based on what she had written, Goforth assumed that the stranger’s son was probably stationed far away, serving his country.
“I pray that you see your son soon!” Goforth wrote on Facebook. “He’s lucky to have a mom that loves him so much! God bless you and him! Tell him thank you for his service.”
Immediately, comments praising the act of kindness and thanking the generous mom for her strength started gathering on the post.
Not long after, Caryn Scherm Hill, who claimed to be the writer of the note, also replied. According to her comment, she had discovered Goforth’s post thanks to her son’s girlfriend, who saw it online and told her about it.
“It was my pleasure,” Hill wrote. “Kindness can create such a wave of emotion. How extra special that you were getting breakfast for your son!”
The military mom shared a few details of her story with the others on Facebook, thanking them for their kindness in response to her gesture.
“I cried like a baby when I read the comments from you and others!” she added. “Not an hour goes by that we don’t think of our son. He is going to laugh when he reads this.”
“My son has 17 days remaining in Basic Military Training,” Hill continued. She said that she expected to see him very soon at his graduation ceremony.
When it comes to life in a military family, it’s the little things and the simplest moments that count. How special that one mom decided to share with a complete stranger during a moment of love for her son.
“We love doing random acts of kindness,” Hill wrote. “It can make so many of us happy.”
The Western Journal reached out to Heidi Goforth but has not yet received a response. We will update this story if and when we do.
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