Jeremy: “Yes, but the tomb of Jesus was empty, too.”
Pastor Dewey Moede
Jeremy
by Joni Eareckson Tada
Dear Dewey,
“‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise”?'” Matthew 21:16
Miss Miller had taught many students at the Christian school, but none so exasperating as Jeremy. He was twelve years old, had a developmental disability, and had not progressed beyond the second grade. Miss Miller had repeatedly tried to place Jeremy in a special class, but the boy’s parents wanted him to stay with his classmates. This frustrated her, as she had eighteen other youngsters to supervise.
After teaching about the Resurrection one day, Miss Miller gave the class an assignment. Each child was given a large plastic egg and told to bring it back the next day with something inside that showed new life. All the kids were enthusiastic except for Jeremy. Miss Miller wasn’t certain the boy understood.
The next morning the children arrived in class with their eggs, laughing and discussing their surprises inside. In one egg a child had placed a flower. In another, a plastic butterfly. One concealed a rock with moss. When Miss Miller opened Jeremy’s egg, it was empty. She reasoned that he must not have understood the instructions. Because she did not want to embarrass the boy, she quietly set the egg aside.
“Miss Miller,” Jeremy spoke up, “aren’t you going to talk about my egg?” The teacher replied that it was empty.
Jeremy
by Joni Eareckson Tada
Dear Dewey,
“‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise”?'” Matthew 21:16
Miss Miller had taught many students at the Christian school, but none so exasperating as Jeremy. He was twelve years old, had a developmental disability, and had not progressed beyond the second grade. Miss Miller had repeatedly tried to place Jeremy in a special class, but the boy’s parents wanted him to stay with his classmates. This frustrated her, as she had eighteen other youngsters to supervise.
After teaching about the Resurrection one day, Miss Miller gave the class an assignment. Each child was given a large plastic egg and told to bring it back the next day with something inside that showed new life. All the kids were enthusiastic except for Jeremy. Miss Miller wasn’t certain the boy understood.
The next morning the children arrived in class with their eggs, laughing and discussing their surprises inside. In one egg a child had placed a flower. In another, a plastic butterfly. One concealed a rock with moss. When Miss Miller opened Jeremy’s egg, it was empty. She reasoned that he must not have understood the instructions. Because she did not want to embarrass the boy, she quietly set the egg aside.
“Miss Miller,” Jeremy spoke up, “aren’t you going to talk about my egg?” The teacher replied that it was empty. “Yes, but the tomb of Jesus was empty, too.”
While the other children ran out to the schoolyard, Miss Miller stayed behind, wiping her tears. Here she had thought it was a waste of time trying to teach Jeremy, but all the while, he had cultivated a wisdom far beyond that of his classmates. Three months later, Jeremy passed away. And those who paid their respects at the funeral home were surprised to see nineteen eggs on top of his casket. All of them, empty.*
Blessings,
Joni and Friends
*This story originally appeared in Guideposts magazine.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version.
Now Available
The Beyond Suffering Bible was carefully crafted by our team at Joni and Friends in partnership with Tyndale House Publishers to specifically address the needs of people affected by disability and those facing chronic conditions. We invite you to help us put the Beyond Suffering Bibleinto the hands of people who greatly need God’s infinite hope.
While the other children ran out to the schoolyard, Miss Miller stayed behind, wiping her tears. Here she had thought it was a waste of time trying to teach Jeremy, but all the while, he had cultivated a wisdom far beyond that of his classmates. Three months later, Jeremy passed away. And those who paid their respects at the funeral home were surprised to see nineteen eggs on top of his casket. All of them, empty.*
Blessings,
Joni and Friends
*This story originally appeared in Guideposts magazine.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version.
Now Available
The Beyond Suffering Bible was carefully crafted by our team at Joni and Friends in partnership with Tyndale House Publishers to specifically address the needs of people affected by disability and those facing chronic conditions. We invite you to help us put the Beyond Suffering Bibleinto the hands of people who greatly need God’s infinite hope.
