The Basket Lady

Basket Lady has noticed that even though Easter’s a couple weeks away, it seems like the chocolate covered bunnies, eggs, and Easter baskets have lined the isles and shelves of most stores since the day after Valentine’s. Sometimes I wonder what the children think when they look at the assortment of baskets that seem to be everywhere and then, suddenly, the baskets have disappeared until next year.

In the Judson neighborhood where basket lady grew up, Easter was the one time of the year when the girls wore their best frilly laced dresses, white gloves, hat and a pair of shiny black Patton leather shoes. The boys wore a black suit, starched white shirt and a red bow tie; their hair was slicked down so that not one hair was out of place.

The whole neighborhood looked forward to spending the day at the Anderson Road Mission Church dressed in our Sunday best feeling all polished and shiny like a new penny. The children sat in the first pew on that particular Sunday and listened intently to dear Preacher Harmon promising us a resurrection someday even though we didn’t understand his words, we nodded our heads in agreement and besides, if Preacher Harmon said so, then it was the truth.

After the Easter service, three hundred or so people shared a Sunday meal downstairs in the Mission before we went outside to look for hidden Easter eggs.

Basket Lady learned some valuable life’s lessons on those Sunday mornings- the importance of sharing one’s food, clothes, toys, and money with community members who were down and out and doing it (service) in such a way that the individual/family felt valued, respected, and included.

Dear little girl or boy, dare to dream BIG.

Do not settle for little dreams.

The waves of God’s thought flow through your mind.

The winds of God’s will blow through your heart;

The waves and wind are high and have no end.

God meant YOU for more.

Do not settle for little dreams.

Kindness not only counts but it adds up!

We miss your kindness every day, Dot Sanchas!

Until then, smile and live in the present.