Learning by “Egg”-xample

My son is reading Charlotte’s Web at school. As a class project, he brought home an egg to take care of for a week, just as Wilbur took care of Charlotte’s egg. He has to write in a journal each day about the adventures he has with the egg. He has named it, and he can read to it, wash it, play with it, and decorate or dress it. He is not supposed to leave it alone. He can take it back and forth to school with him or get a baby sitter. Spencer’s egg’s name is Kirby.

Today, a tragedy occurred. I cracked Kirby. It was an accident. He was on the dining room table waiting to go to church with us. I picked him up to move him across the table so I could put down our Bibles, and he fell from his carrier. It was just a few inches to the table, however the fall was enough to cause Kirby to crack just a little.

Spencer almost had a break down. He began to cry and was so upset I was concerned he might have a seizure. After much consoling, we took care of Kirby. We put on some glue as an ointment and a bandage to keep the crack from getting worse. Then I sat Spencer down to have a talk.

I must admit, when Kirby cracked, my first thought was to quickly boil another egg and replace him so Spencer wouldn’t know. Then I decided keeping Kirby (and Spencer for that matter) sheltered so things from real life didn’t happen was not really the purpose of the project. It wouldn’t teach Spencer anything. It wouldn’t demonstrate some very important lessons for him.

I had a great discussion with Spencer about several major issues. The first was accidents happen. Sometimes we get hurt or hurt others unintentionally. I didn’t mean to crack Kirby, and I apologized. It was important for Spencer to forgive me.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

I also admitted I had considered not telling him about what happened. We discussed that we should never cover things up and pretend they didn’t happen. It’s always best to be truthful.

Proverbs 12:22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.


Then we talked about how Kirby did get hurt by the fall and the crack, but we had taken good care of him so he could heal. It led to a great discussion about how God takes care of us and heals our hurts in life.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.


I thought at first today that cracking Kirby was a tragedy. After further evaluation, I have decided it was an opportunity. It was a chance for me to teach Spencer some very valuable lessons. I think that’s what God does too. He allows things to come into our lives we at first think are tragedies. And while they may be events that cause pain and leave scars, he uses them to teach us some very valuable lessons too.

6 Responses to Learning by “Egg”-xample
  1. Erin
    March 2, 2009 | 9:52 am

    Amy, this was excellent.

  2. little i
    March 2, 2009 | 10:13 am

    That is so wonderful how you turned that into a learning opportunity for your child! Well done!

  3. Nicole
    March 2, 2009 | 2:15 pm

    Thanks for sharing this story, and the verses that correspond to the themes you talked about. Great job!

  4. skoots1mom
    March 2, 2009 | 3:33 pm

    what a precious story…what wonderful lessons…God’s creativity is so beautiful when we recognize it…
    I learned a while back the importance of “never wasting the suffering”…how is God trying to talk to me in my suffering, what lesson is being given, what is now different, how can I claim this time of suffering into a time of praise…
    oh, i can just imagine that little egg with its little bandaid…for we are all broken in one way or another!

  5. Donna
    March 4, 2009 | 4:14 am

    What an awesome example of teaching your kids as you experience life together. I love it, this inspires me to listen to what God wants to teach me and teach my kids through everyday stuff. Thanks Amy!

  6. Melissa
    March 4, 2009 | 3:02 pm

    Oh what a wonderful story, it was great that you could turn what your son saw as a tragedy into such an enlightening learning experience.