The Empty Egg

THE EMPTY EGG He had a twisted body and a very feeble mind, His teacher told his parents that they should go and find A special school for him, for he just didn’t fit; She’d spent too many hours, and she was tired of it. The parents couldn’t take him to that school far away, “He really likes this school,” was all that they could say. The teacher seemed despondent as now it seemed her fate To bear this family’s burden, this challenge strange and great. One day he came to see her and said to her so proud, In front of all his classmates, “I love you!” very loud. She really was embarrassed, but said, “That’s very sweet,” And then as students giggled, he quietly took his seat. When spring came with its flowers and signs of life anew, The children were excited over what they were to do. Each child has his assignment: an empty egg for each With something illustrating a sign of life to teach. They had been told of Easter and of the risen Christ, And how He died to give them brand new, eternal life. The teacher now had wondered what would that one boy do, She wanted to call his parents, but had forgotten to. The day for sharing came then, the eggs brought one by one, And as they all were opened, it seemed a lot of fun. One had a brand new flower, one had a butterfly; Each had its illustration of new life for the eye. Then when his egg was opened, ‘twas empty there inside, The teacher took it slowly as deep inside she cried. “Oh, child, your egg is empty! You didn’t understand,” She thought he didn’t know what for each egg she had planned. “Well, Jesus’ tomb is empty!” the child had to say And silence filled the classroom upon that special day. Not many days thereafter this child was laid to rest, The class came to his funeral, his hand they each caressed. And on his lifeless body each child an egg did place; Each egg inside was empty, and tears were on each face. They missed him very dearly, but now knew he had passed To his new life in heaven, free, healthy, whole at last.