Of Cabbages and Kings
By Randa Chance, MA, LPC Associate, LMFT Associate
Reviewed By: Makayla Davis
We all need laughter, and if you think you don’t, that is just confirmation that you may need a little extra. On the other hand, we all need to cry every once in a while too. So why not just kill two birds with one stone here? Of Cabbages and Kings is a brilliantly written compilation of true stories by author, Randa M. Chance. She covers everything from the struggles of being a pastor’s wife and starting new churches, to the chaos that inevitably comes with raising three children.
It became my routine to read this book every night before going to bed. The emotions that I felt through Randa’s storytelling could have me laughing out loud in one chapter and have me puffy-eyed in the very next. She tells stories that are hilarious, awkward, and relatable, and she manages to find a perfect teaching moment in each one. She finds the value in each life circumstance and teaches her readers how to find the value in their own difficult or thrilling moments. If you enjoy real-life situations, told from the point of view of the one who lived them, Of Cabbages and Kings is the book for you.
Here are a few quotes that truly capture the hilarious, yet tender essence of Of Cabbages and Kings:
“I woke up at 3:30 a.m. with a honking snort and sat straight up in bed with a feeling of dread. I began to pant and stare wildly around the dark room. I became aware of a growing conviction that I had just swallowed a metal bobby pin in my sleep and it was too late to do anything about it.”
“‘Oh look,’ a woman said, ‘Here is someone’s baby.’ I scooped up my bare-bottomed boy and scuttled toward the back of the room. ‘Becky!’ I motioned to my friend with panic in my eyes. ‘Oh, Randa, can you just sing that one more time?’ Becky whispered as she walked by me toward the front of the room. I stood by the door and held Benjamin in my arms and gave myself a mental kick in the backside. Time to forget about what people think. My child is in my arms. He is where he wants to be. I will survive. I am his mamma. There is nothing I can do about his state of undress right now. I began to sing again.”
“I recall that there is a God in His heaven who holds me in the palm of His hand and understands me both when I am full of tears and when I am empty and poured out.”
Audience:
Women; young adults and older.
Usefulness Rating:
While this is not a book that would be used for Bible studies, it is great for sharing in the experiences of someone else and finding value in the little moments of life.
Entertainment Value:
Sometimes reading a book that is easy to understand and enjoyable to read is exactly what we need. This has been one of my favorite books of 2022 so far when it comes to enjoyment and entertainment.
Good For Groups:
Although you may not find yourself reading this book along with a Bible study, it would be an enjoyable read for a book club.
For more information about this book or other reading suggestions, feel free to contact me directly.
