The Lovely Lunch Ladies at Pleasant Grove High School

The Lovely Lunch Ladies

at Pleasant Grove High School

Joshua might not have understood all of the words to the birthday song, but he did understand that he was very, very loved by these very special lovely lunch ladies.  

The Cafeteria … a place of learning, friendship, joy and love.  Thinking of Joshua, with his incapacitated brain, autism and seizures making his way through a school full of hundreds of “regular” students brought fear into my heart.  One of the many places I visited and observed him at school was in the cafeteria.  The joy brought to my heart by the service and love given to Joshua there will always bring tremendous awe and gratitude for this very happy place.  

Joshua’s class was always taken to the cafeteria just before the normal lunch crowd so they could be the first in line, learn to select their food, eat at their special table, and also clear their own trash and trays.  This was thrilling for sure that he learned to do this so well.

Joshua had friends everywhere, and I soon found out that he had very special friends in the Pleasant Grove High School Cafeteria.  It was Joshua’s birthday, and I received a phone call asking if I would like to join the “lunch ladies” who worked in the cafeteria because they had made Joshua his very own birthday cake.  And it wasn’t just the birthday cake that touched my heart, it was their initiative to find out when his birthday was and do something about it.  And it was the beautiful friendship, love and joy that came with this very special birthday cake.  Joshua might not have understood all of the words to the birthday song, but he did understand that he was very, very loved by these very special lovely lunch ladies.  He did know how to show excitement, and I can still see his clapping hands and hear his happy laughter when they gave him his cake and sang his very own birthday song.

This friendship with the lovely lunch ladies lasted through his high school years, and even after Joshua left for other school programs.  When Joshua died, I received this very special poem from these very special and lovely lunch ladies.  I am thankful for each one of them, and yet, they are thanking us for Joshua.  The words bring joy and peace to my heart.

JOSHUA

Josh to us, the high five kid.

A bright part of our day was the smile he always had.

He was always so proud of himself when he put his tray away.

He always came in with a quick “Hi”

Followed by his smile.

We remember that he loved basketball and Bowling.

And he had his Barney Video he packed around.

It was so fun to take him his Birthday cake.

He would get so excited he would jump up and down.

The memories he left with us tells it all.

Some people the good Lord sends to us to brighten our days.

And Josh was one of them.

It may have been a short life,

but the part he shared with us was so full of joy.

He touched our hearts and crawled right inside.

His memories will stay there always.

The Pleasant Grove High Lunch Ladies would like to thank you for the

opportunity you gave us to get to know Josh.

Our love and prayers go out to you all of Josh’s family.

To go with this poem, they wrote individual notes as follows that remain in our hearts:

“I will always remember Josh and his smile.” - Claudia

“We loved to see cute Josh every day in the lunch room.  We loved him!”  - Sharon

“We loved Josh.  He was a joy to be around.”  - Linda

“Josh always made me smile.  I am so glad I got to know him.”  - Kris

“Josh brought so much joy to us lunch ladies everyday!  He will always remain in our hearts.” - Whitney