An Easter Story - Jeremy's Egg
                   Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind, and a chronic
                    illness that had been slowly killing him all his young life. Still, his
                    parents had tried to give him as normal a life as possible and had
                    sent him to St. Theresa's elementary school.

                    At the age of twelve, Jeremy was still only in second grade, seemingly
                    unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated
                    with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting
                    noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of
                    light had penetrated the darkness of his brain.

                    His teacher tried hard to ignore Jeremy 's noises and his blank
                    stares. Then one day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg
                    behind him.

                   "I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loudly enough for the whole
                    class to hear.
The other children snickered, and Doris's face turned red.

                   She stammered, "wh-why, that's very nice, Jeremy.
Now please take your seat."

                   Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of
                    Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the
                    idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children
a large plastic egg.

                    "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it
                    back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life.
Do you understand?"

                    "Yes, Miss Miller!"
         ......
                    The children responded enthusiastically - all except for Jeremy. He
                    just listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even
                    make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about
                    Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment?

                    The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as
                    they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's
                    desk. After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the
                    eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower.

                    "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When
                    plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here."

                    A small girl in the first row waved her arms. "That's my egg, Miss
                    Miller," she called out.

                    The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real.
                    Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and turns into
                    a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that is new life, too."

                    Little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine."

                    Then Doris opened the third egg. She gasped. The egg was empty!
                    Surely it must be Jeremy's, she thought, and, of course, he did not
                    understand her instructions. Because she did not want to embarrass
                    him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another.

                    Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk
                    about my egg?"

                    Flustered, Doris replied, "but Jeremy - your egg is empty!"

                    He looked into her eyes and said softly, "yes, but Jesus' tomb was
                    empty, too!"

                    Time stopped. When she could speak again. Doris asked him,
"Do you know why the tomb was empty?"

                    "Oh yes!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Jesus was killed and put in there.
Then his Father raised him up!"

                    The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school
                    yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.

                    Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the
                    mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket .......
all of them empty.

                            ~ Author Unknown ~