Jesus’ empty tomb is a reminder that he is alive

TGMC dedicates pictured wall of donors
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Lafourche permit office tries to stymie
April 21, 2011
TGMC dedicates pictured wall of donors
April 19, 2011
Lafourche permit office tries to stymie
April 21, 2011

Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a terminal illness that had been slowly killing him. Still, his parents tried to give him as normal a life as possible and 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 for a consultation. As the Foresters sat quietly, Doris said to them, “Jeremy really belongs in a special school. Being with younger children who don’t have learning problems isn’t fair to him. There’s a five-year gap between him and the other students.”


Mrs. Forrester cried softly while her husband spoke. “Miss Miller, there are no special schools 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. She wanted to sympathize with the Foresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. Yet keeping him in her class wasn’t fair. She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction.

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 blank stares.


One day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg. “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 Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then emphasizing the idea of new life, she gave each child a large plastic egg. “Now,” she said, “I want you to take it home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that represents new life. OK?”

“Yes, Miss Miller,” the children responded enthusiastically, all except Jeremy. He just listened intently; his eyes never left her face. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the assignment?

The next morning, 19 children came to school and placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller’s desk. After their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. “A flower is 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 and said, “That’s my egg, Miss Miller.”

The next egg contained a plastic butterfly that 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.”

Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty. Surely it must be Jeremy’s, she thought, and he probably didn’t understand my instructions. She did not want to embarrass him, so 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, “They killed Jesus and him put in there. Then his Father raised him.” The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the schoolyard, Doris cried.

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

Have a happy Easter!