Expansive Love

My absolute favorite dolls to play with growing up were my Cabbage Patch Kids dolls. I had five Cabbage Patch Kids. These dolls were created in the late 1970's, however mass production on the dolls began in 1982 leading to them becoming wildly popular. By the end of 1983 a reported 3 million Cabbage Patch Kids had been “adopted” with many being “readopted” for as much at 100 times the adoption fee.

I received my first Cabbage Patch Kid for Christmas in 1983. I was seven years old at the time. I was absolutely overjoyed that Christmas morning. My sister recently sent me a video of an ABC7 Eyewitness News report of the Cabbage Patch Kids riots that hit stores during Christmas 1983. Parents lined up hours before the stores opened, pushing, shoving, and arguing just to secure a Cabbage Patch Doll for their children. My sister had a caption that accompanied the video, “I was there!” I didn’t realize the great lengths that my mother and sister went to for me to have that doll.

As I reflect on their love for me, evidenced through their willingness to endure pandemonium to secure a toy that I desperately wanted, this Christmas, I cannot help but think about the love of God and the great lengths that God went to to secure our salvation and reconcile us back to God, which humanity so desperately needed. In Isaiah 9:9, the prophet affirms God’s promise, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I do not remember the names of my Cabbage Patch Dolls, but I am sure of the name of Jesus. I do not even know where those dolls are now, but I am grateful that Jesus Is Emmanuel-God with us. On this Christmas, may we all be reminded of the expansive love for God toward us through Christ Jesus.

Growing in Christ

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah