Easter Joy and Sappiness

Yes, the title did say sappiness, as in, an overwhelming feeling of being sappy. I'm not sure it is even a real word, but it suits me quite well. For some reason, ever since I was pregnant with my daughter over 3 years ago, my sensitivity meter has gone WAY up. It's not that I was never sensitive-I used to cry at really powerful moments in really dramatic movies, for instance. But now, it doesn't even take a really dramatic movie. It takes nothing much at all to cause me to suddenly choke up, eyes pooling with tears, moved by a sweet or endearing moment. It sometimes only takes a commercial, or a song, or a story I hear, or a Veggie Tales video.....

Okay, let me explain. Those Veggies know how to get a good message across! Most of the time they are silly and witty, causing laugh-out-loud moments probably more often for adults than kids. But they also have their sweet, heart-rending moments as well. Even though my 3 year old isn't always interested in watching Veggie Tales, you will still find me finishing a video we started and sometimes crying by the end of it. When these moments happen, there is no hiding it! When I can't hold back the sniffles or the sobs, then I throw a pillow over my face while my husband smiles (trying not to laugh I suppose) and pats my shoulder in a joking consolation saying, "Awwww, there, there."

Anyway, since Easter is this Sunday, I thought it would a good time to share with you all one of my favorite sappy Veggie moments (and messages!) from the Veggie Tale dvd An Easter Carol. I've watched this clip so many times, and also listened to the song on a Veggie Tales audio cd we have, and I have yet to make it through dry-eyed. But truly, it is a message so awesome and powerful that I can't help but feel overwhelmed each time I listen to it. It is the gospel-the good news of Jesus Christ-summed up, and it brings back to me the joy of my salvation! So instead of writing a post on the true meaning of Easter for us all to meditate on, I will just share with you the following song lyrics, and the video clip, because it already sums up in a beautiful, powerful way, just what Easter is all about anyway. I hope you will be encouraged (and maybe even get a little sappy too!).

Veggie Tales
Hope's Song lyrics from An Easter Carol

There's a story that started on Christmas
When a baby was born in the night
And those who came far who followed the star
Were seeing a heavenly sight
A heavenly sight

Well, the years hurried by and the boy, now a man
Could make the blind see with a touch of His hand
He was born to be King, He was Rabbi and Priest
But the best that He had, He gave to the least
He gave to the least

He was born and He died, almost 2,000 years ago
He laughed and He cried, He felt all the fears we know
But what does it matter? A story so strange
Even if it is true, what does it change?
What does it change?

Though He spoke like a prophet, like no one they'd heard
This simple young carpenter, crowds hung on every word
He hated injustice, He taught what is right
He said, I'm the way and the truth and the light
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/v/veggie_tales/hopes_song.html ]
His friends soon believed that truly He was the one
The Savior, Messiah, God's one and only Son
But others they doubted, they did not agree
So they took Him, they tried Him
He died on a tree, He died on a tree

God has made a way
For all who mourn and grieve
Death will never be the end
If you just believe

God has made a way
For all who mourn and grieve
Death will never be the end
If you just believe

There is nothing left to fear
Nothing Heaven knows
For He died for us to give us life
And to give us hope He rose