Young Jeremy and Easter

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Young Jeremy was unlucky. He was born with a twisted
body in a slow mind. By twelve, he was still
in second grade, just unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller,
often became exasperated. He'd squirm in his seat, he'd drool,
he'd make grunting noises, while occasionally he spoke clearly and distinctly,
as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness

(00:22):
of his brain. Doris was running out of patience, so
she called Jeremy's parents and asked them to come in.
Started right in, Jeremy really belongs in a special school.
It isn't fair for him to be here with the
younger children who don't have learning problems. Well, Jeremy's mother
began to cry when his father spoke up, Miss Miller,

(00:44):
it would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we
took him out of this school, for he really likes
it here. After they left, Miss Miller just sat staring
at the snow falling outside of her classroom window. Yes,
this their only child is terminally ill. But was it
fair to the other eighteen youngsters in her class? After all,
Jeremy was a distraction. Suddenly She felt a pang of guilt,

(01:07):
so she bowed her head and whispered, Lord, please help
me to be more patient with Jeremy. And then she
remembered God never says no, he says yes, not yet,
or I have something better. From that day on, Doris
was inspired to try harder. She ignored Jeremy's noises distractions

(01:28):
as blank stares. Spring finally arrived and the children talked
excitedly about the coming of Easter that week. Miss Miller
told the story of Jesus and how at Christmas we
are born, but on Easter we are born again. Emphasizing
the idea of new life springing. She gave each of
the children a large plastic egg with instructions, children take

(01:51):
this home and bring it back tomorrow Good Friday, with
something inside that shows new life. The children responded enthusiastic,
all except for Jeremy. Oh, he listened, his eyes never
left her face, but this time didn't make his usual noises.
Did he understand Jesus's death and resurrection? She should call

(02:13):
his parents that night and explain the project to them.
As she got home late, the sink had stopped up.
She'd done grocery shopping. She still had to iron a
blouse and prepare the next day's lesson, completely forgetting about
the phone call to Jeremy's parents. The next morning, nineteen
laughing and talking kids poured into the classroom, placing their

(02:33):
eggs one by one in the large wicker basket on
Miss Miller's desk. At day's end, it was time to
open them. In the first one a flower. Oh, yes,
a flower is certainly a sign of new life, she said.
When plants peak through the ground, we know that spring
is here. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which
looked very real. Doris held it up. Oh, a caterpillar, Yes,

(02:55):
it changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. In the
next egg was a with moss on it. Yes, moss
is new life. And then Doris opened the fourth egg.
It was empty. Surely it must be Jeremy's. He didn't
understand the assignment. If only she had not forgotten the
phone call. Well, Miss Miller hastily reached for another egg,

(03:16):
when suddenly Jeremy spoke up. Miss Miller, aren't you going
to talk about my egg? But Jeremy, she said, your
egg is empty. He looked into her eyes and said softly. Yes,
But Jesus's tomb was empty too. Silence fell over Miss
Miller's classroom, and time seemed to stop. Do you know
why the tomb was empty? Jeremy? Oh? Yes, Jesus was

(03:39):
killed and put him there, and then his father raised
him up. Just then the recess bell rang, and while
the children excitedly ran out the door, Doris Miller was overcome.
She had realized that God had answered her prayer with
something better. Three months later, Jeremy died, and there among

(04:00):
the mourners were each of his eighteen classmates, who one
by one approached his small casket and in it carefully
placed a plastic colored empty egg