Lessons from Veggie Tales

Tonight before bed, I read my son his new library book: A Veggie Tales Classic "An Easter Carol." It's the Christmas Carol story adapted to teach Ebenezer Nezzer the real meaning of Easter.

At the beginning of the story Nezzer already has a factory of mechanical chickens that lay colorful plastic eggs . Now, he wants to build a place where everyone will buy his colored eggs and chocolate bunnies and have Easter egg hunts every day. He wants to build Easter Land at the site where the old St. Bart's church sits today. "People are wasting their time sitting in those pews when they could be out buying eggs!"

Of course the town people are afraid. The church is set to be demolished tomorrow morning at 8am. Until......Ebenezer Nezzer has three visions. You guessed it: One of Easter past, Easter present and Easter future.

Smack in the middle of the story (as the veggies are going to bed) there was a lesson seemingly written just for me.

"'What'll we do, Dad?' Edmund asked as they finished saying their prayers that night. 'Well Edmund, we need to have hope, and we need to remember that no matter what happens, God is taking care of us,' his Dad explained. 'Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Now try to get some sleep and remember that I love you.'"

The dialogue in my head was swirling. God you called us to adopt. You promised that you would bring us a flood of provision to do Your work. My response should be one of hope because no matter what happens You are taking care of me and faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And just like the father in the story He doesn't want us to worry for one second. I imagined Him saying "Now try to get some sleep and remember that I love you."

Of course, my deep thoughts were interrupted by......."Mom, are they broccoli or asparagus?"

You know the end of the story. The church was saved because Ebenezer Nezzer was shown the true meaning of Easter. He fixes up the orphanage, gives medicine to little Edmund and vows never to build an Easter Land. Way to go Veggies! Way to have Faith and Hope and way to trust that your God is taking care of you. Thank you for reminding us all. What a valuable lesson.