>This one is long, by very worthy of reading. Got a kleenex? > >>><< >> Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of >12, he >> was still in second grade at his Christian school, 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. Most of the time, however, Jeremy just >irritated his >> teacher. >> >> One day she called his parents and asked them to come in for a >consultation. >> >> As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris said to them, >"Jeremy >> really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with >younger >> children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five year >gap >> between his age and that of the other students." >> >> Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue, while her husband spoke. >"Miss >> Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would >be a >> terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We >know >> he really likes it here." >> >> Doris sat for a long time after they had left, staring at the snow >outside >> the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to >> sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a >terminal >> illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 >other >> youngsters to teach, and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he >would >> never learn to read and write. Why waste any more time trying? >> >> As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. Here I am >complaining >> when my problems are nothing compared to that poor family, she >thought. >> >> Lord, please help me to be more patient with Jeremy. From that day on, >she >> 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, loud enough for the whole class to hear. The >other >> students snickered, and Doris' face turned red. She stammered, >"Wh--why >> that's very nice, Jeremy. N--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 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? Perhaps >she >> should call his parents and explain the project to them. >> >> That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord >and >> waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she >still had >> to shop for groceries, iron a blouse, and prepare a vocabulary test >for the >> next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents. >> >> 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 arm. "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 grows into a >> beautiful butterfly. Yes, that's new life, too." Little Judy smiled >>proudly >> and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine." >> >> Next, Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that moss, >too, >> showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom, "My daddy >helped >> me," he beamed. >> >> Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty. >Surely >>it >> must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not understand her >> instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. >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 said, "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. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks!" RTKB&G4JC! Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rangernet.org
