It seems that "black Friday" shopping has taken over the internet with "cyber Monday" and everyone is tagging along trying to get in on the action. Bad thing??? Maybe not. I have recently become aware of a world beyond my own. A world where a ten year old child's greatest concerns might not be whether or not she can go skating on Friday or if her friends sit by her in the cafeteria at lunch. A world with no hope of a heaven and no knowledge of a savior. A world where things are not, absolutely not, fair or right by my standards or your standards.
I am sure you are wondering what I am talking about. After all, it has been months since I have blogged and now I am probably sounding CRAZY!! I have been growing. In the past, I wouldn't have written a post like this one cause it might offend one of my friends...blah. If it offends you, then you don't really know my true heart and you aren't really a friend.
I have recently become aware of an organization called Worldcrafts. It is an organization supported by the Baptist WMU that helps to free women of prostitution and slavery and impoverished people by teaching them a way to make a living. There are many different groups around the world. Some make jewelry, or stationary products, stuffed toys, beautiful doilies, wooden home decor items.....the list goes on and on.
It is a fantastic organization. I wish many Americans would try to support themselves as hard as some of these people do. There are many stories about the artisans on the website that rip my heart. In fact, after reading about them, I know my heart will never, ever be the same.
Today, Cyber Monday, Worldcrafts is offering free shipping, which is a pretty big cost since these are all overseas. So I head over to the website. I find the item I have been coveting...a laptop bag.
Isn't it perfect??? My favorite colors, my favorite print. It has a shoulder strap as well as a way to carry it in your hand. Ah, finally, I could be one of those elite who does not carry the black sleeve we got with our laptops, but a beautiful laptop bag..... Everyone would say, "Your bag is sooo beautiful...wherever did you get it!!" I would casually say, "Oh, it was handmade in Cambodia. I special ordered it. It was my little Christmas gift to myself."
And then I think about how greedy and stupid that is. The black sleeve does me just fine and I don't need the flowered bag with the shoulder strap in my favorite colors...um... I just don't need it. There are other ways for me to spend my money besides on myself. "But it is Cyber Monday, " I tell myself. "Free Shipping"....... "Ciara's birthday is coming up. You could buy her something and you haven't yet started your Christmas shopping, and you have bills piling up..." So the greedy war begins in my soul.
I finally decide that $44.99 is just extremely expensive and way too much for me to spend on something for myself.
I read about the group that made it.
They call themselves Kingdom Creations.
They are victims of severe poverty.
Many women sell their daughters for a period of time until they can figure out a way to make more money.
It is NOT FAIR.
I have never, ever even entertained the thought of having to sell my daughter to make a living for myself. ARE YOU LISTENING???? I can not even fathom the thought of this. How can I not buy the bag now??? I mean, that would be two meals out to eat for my daughter and I. Two nights of us eating ramen noodles for supper instead and a woman gets to support her family and not think of selling her daughter.
Will I buy the bag? No, cause I don't need it. I would never be able to use it. I would be forever thinking of my greed. I will find another way to support the organization.
Will I ever be the same after Cyber Monday shopping? No. A piece of me will forever be united with some faceless mother/daughter duo in a country I have never visited. I will have hope for them, when their hope is gone. And I will hug my daughter tighter and longer and thank God that even when she is screaming that I am unfair to her, she will never, ever know how unfair life can be.
I am sure you are wondering what I am talking about. After all, it has been months since I have blogged and now I am probably sounding CRAZY!! I have been growing. In the past, I wouldn't have written a post like this one cause it might offend one of my friends...blah. If it offends you, then you don't really know my true heart and you aren't really a friend.
I have recently become aware of an organization called Worldcrafts. It is an organization supported by the Baptist WMU that helps to free women of prostitution and slavery and impoverished people by teaching them a way to make a living. There are many different groups around the world. Some make jewelry, or stationary products, stuffed toys, beautiful doilies, wooden home decor items.....the list goes on and on.
It is a fantastic organization. I wish many Americans would try to support themselves as hard as some of these people do. There are many stories about the artisans on the website that rip my heart. In fact, after reading about them, I know my heart will never, ever be the same.
Today, Cyber Monday, Worldcrafts is offering free shipping, which is a pretty big cost since these are all overseas. So I head over to the website. I find the item I have been coveting...a laptop bag.
Isn't it perfect??? My favorite colors, my favorite print. It has a shoulder strap as well as a way to carry it in your hand. Ah, finally, I could be one of those elite who does not carry the black sleeve we got with our laptops, but a beautiful laptop bag..... Everyone would say, "Your bag is sooo beautiful...wherever did you get it!!" I would casually say, "Oh, it was handmade in Cambodia. I special ordered it. It was my little Christmas gift to myself."
And then I think about how greedy and stupid that is. The black sleeve does me just fine and I don't need the flowered bag with the shoulder strap in my favorite colors...um... I just don't need it. There are other ways for me to spend my money besides on myself. "But it is Cyber Monday, " I tell myself. "Free Shipping"....... "Ciara's birthday is coming up. You could buy her something and you haven't yet started your Christmas shopping, and you have bills piling up..." So the greedy war begins in my soul.
I finally decide that $44.99 is just extremely expensive and way too much for me to spend on something for myself.
I read about the group that made it.
They call themselves Kingdom Creations.
They are victims of severe poverty.
Many women sell their daughters for a period of time until they can figure out a way to make more money.
It is NOT FAIR.
I have never, ever even entertained the thought of having to sell my daughter to make a living for myself. ARE YOU LISTENING???? I can not even fathom the thought of this. How can I not buy the bag now??? I mean, that would be two meals out to eat for my daughter and I. Two nights of us eating ramen noodles for supper instead and a woman gets to support her family and not think of selling her daughter.
Will I buy the bag? No, cause I don't need it. I would never be able to use it. I would be forever thinking of my greed. I will find another way to support the organization.
Will I ever be the same after Cyber Monday shopping? No. A piece of me will forever be united with some faceless mother/daughter duo in a country I have never visited. I will have hope for them, when their hope is gone. And I will hug my daughter tighter and longer and thank God that even when she is screaming that I am unfair to her, she will never, ever know how unfair life can be.
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6 comments:
Absolutely beautiful!!
I have a co worker who recently traveled to Honduras to teach some of these women a craft. One of the coolest sounding mission trips I've ever heard of.
I think you should go teach them a craft!!!
At first, I wanted to chant into my computer, "Buy the bag! Buy the bag!" But now I think maybe your role in supporting Worldcrafts is to bring awareness to others. Keep it up!
Your picture looks awesome, by the way. And I'm glad you're back in the blogosphere. I love you.
Glad you are blogging again. In our financial situation I strugle between want and need all the time but what if your want helps someone elses need? That is a tough question. We have an organization like that through THe Lutheran church and I always find stuff I want but don't need but it costs so much. If I buy I feel guilty , if I don't I feel guilty. But for I guess it comes down to how can I help both my family and the needy adn that is usually through middion offerings at my church because you want them to have quality lives but ultimately you want them to hear the word of God. Please don't think I am trying to give a moral lesson or anything just discussing how I deal with the same situation.
You could make that laptop cover yourself and with the money you saved help others.
What a beautiful blog sweetie. Funny, I have been doing a lot of praying for women and children in impoverished countries lately. And you should never be afraid to express your opinion. You write beautifully and have wonderful ideas and are such a pure soul. If someone gets angry at something that you blog about, then you are correct, they do not truly know your heart or maybe they were made to feel guilty and didn't like that feeling, but don't let that deter you. We have to improve this world of ours one step at a time.
Great blog Steph! So, go buy something else that you can give as a gift. You may spend a little more but you can't put a price on the joy you will bring the recipient, the woman who made it and better yet, yourself! I try to "let" myself buy things like that from time to time not for myself but for those that made it. I bought necklaces from Honduras last year that are hideous BUT my nieces loved them! It's amazing how we cannot outspend God. Just when you think "I shouldn't do it because it is too much" God opens up that window and boom there is that money you spent right back in your wallet. It happens every time!!!! Thanks for making me aware of this ministry. Is there a website?
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