tkt8763-01: Fw: JEREMY'S EGG (fwd)

[Aimee Carol Chandler <acc4@ra.msstate.edu>]

I read this story and it really made me think. Sometimes it is hard to go
the extra mile to help someone who is reaching out. As I read this, it
brought tears to my eyes. I thought I would share it with all of you.

Aimee

 		     ****************************************
		        	Aimee C. Chandler
	         	   Graduate Teaching Assistant  
		     Department of Technology and Education
		          Mississippi State University
		  1998-1999 Phi Beta Lambda State President         
	       	Personal Home Page--http://www.msstate.edu/~acc4
   		        	ACC4@Ra.Msstate.Edu
		     *****************************************	

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 21:47:35 -0600
From: Beth Talley <met2@ra.msstate.edu>
To: Sonya Head <src6@ra.msstate.edu>,
     Shirell Stuart <shirell.s.betts@us.arthurandersen.com>,
     Sheryln Tyson <styson@tsixroads.com>,
     Sean King <srking@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu>,
     Myesha Davis <ymd1@ra.msstate.edu>, Kim Jobe <kjobie@dixie-net.com>,
     Jeff Brawner <jwbrawne@olemiss.edu>, Janine <MissJ9@aol.com>,
     Emily Nix <Emily.Nix@ipaper.com>, Durward Talley <lrt852@aol.com>,
     Drew Smith <dgs2@netdoor.com>, Dorris and Ann Ricks <ARicksRN@aol.com>,
     Cheryl Woodley <cvw1@ra.msstate.edu>,
     Carley Roberts <croberts@tsixroads.com>,
     BJ Braddock <bjb1@cobilan.msstate.edu>,
     Aimee Chandler <acc4@ra.msstate.edu>
Subject: Fw: JEREMY'S  EGG



JEREMY'S  EGG

Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a chronic, terminal
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 12, Jeremy was 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. Most of the time, however, Jeremy irritated his teacher.

One day, she called his parents and asked them to come to St. Teresa's for a
consultation.  As the Forresters sat quietly
in 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 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 or write. Why waste any more time
trying?  As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. "Oh God," she
said aloud, "here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared
with that poor family! 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, 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? 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 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."  Next Doris found a rock with moss on it.  She explained that
the 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 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.






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