Tonight, it’s record breaking cold here in the Midwest. Forests are stooped in their snow-glistened robes. Earth is hushed, quiet. Somehow, life and time slows down for me when days are wintry. Sweet husband is keeping the cozy hearth alive, precious toddler-girl is dancing around, her golden hair wild. Beagle Bentley is ever looking for that hidden tidbit fallen to the hardwood floor. I’m here by the fire. There’s a steaming cup of Numi fair trade certified rooibos chai with coconut cream next to me. And, just now is the perfect time to share my heart with you.

It was several days ago now when I was sitting in this same place making Christmas gift lists. Probably a quarter of my life is spent drafting lists, but that’s a story for another time. So, I’m there with my list of names, jotting ideas beneath each one, and I realize the space beneath Lily’s name is startlingly blank. Oh, she’d circled a dozen or so toys from mainstream catalogues, but I didn’t know what she really wanted. We use the four-gift-rule where Lily receives something she wants, something she needs, something to wear, and something to read. I gathered her in my arms and asked her to share with me her one Christmas wish. She swiveled around, and her answer literally broke my heart, “I don’t want one thing! I don’t want just one thing. I want all those things I circled!” And my heart just about came undone considering the selfish, materialistic, cheap, disposable world our children live in. I was appalled by the messages my child is already getting from society–ingratitude, entitlement, selfishness, greed.

We had a long talk, Lily and I. Because I realized that part–MUCH–of her character is my fault. After our discussion, gone are the days where I allow her to choose a trinket or plaything from every shop. I’ve said goodbye to my own days of unaware, unintentional, impulse purchases. My daughter is watching me. She’s building her outlook, worldview, habits, and character by observation. I want her to become Christlike, virtuous, and wise. I desire for her to be selfless, generous, and aware of where her money is going and from where her purchases are coming. This precious teaching moment led to a forthcoming activity. She’s to take a box and fill it with toys she chooses to give to someone who has less. She’s learning thankfulness, giving, and how to bless others. If a toddler understands this simply beautiful concept, can’t we?

Around the same time I was writing out Christmas gift lists, I watched Mercy House Global’s Home For The Holidays premiere. This worship-filled segment was eye (and heart) opening and led to many research moments in the days afterward. Did you realize there are over forty million modern day slaves worldwide and that half of those are labor slaves? We are aware of, and loudly protest, sexual slavery (AND WE SHOULD!), but what about the items in our homes, foods, and beverages that foster child slavery and other labor slavery? Tears have overflowed as I read about the horrific conditions these people, our brothers and sisters, must endure. Did you know that children make up a quarter of those trafficked and the majority are female? Are we really any less selfish than my toddler wanting more? Only it’s worse, our excessive buying causes the slave markets to need more laborers and increase the hours of their already overworked laborers.

Mercy House Global combats slavery by teaching skills which provide dignified trades for women. This ministry taught me that I can help by purchasing fair trade products. Being the incessant list-drafter I am, I listed specific, personal benefits of buying fair trade certified items. And, let’s be honest, this is the time of year I usually practice careless, excessive spending, buying sacks full of plastic junk that receivers trash anyway. Surely you’ve been there, right?

Buying fair trade eliminates junk and saves money! Yesterday, Rudy and I went shopping for groceries and necessities. The number of things I considered and quickly placed back on the shelf because of potential slavery involvement was unbelievable. We saved money and the stress that comes with having excessive “stuff.” And, maybe, just maybe, we helped someone. Supporting fair trade certified companies helps eliminate child slavery and other forms of slave labor.

Did you know that just donating to impoverished people actually creates poverty? Until the past few days, I didn’t understand this either. It’s like the fishing concept: give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he’ll live for a lifetime. You and I can purchase items crafted by artisans who were given jobs by ministries like Mercy House Global and Amazima Ministries.

Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it breathtakingly beautiful how we can directly connect to our brothers and sisters by supporting their dignified trades? We can help them live and thrive!

Another thing about shopping fair trade is that I can find well-made, unique, lovely gifts for others. These items tell beautiful stories. I get to “know” the makers, where they’re from, and their personal stories. How priceless is it to know that their precious hands held the item that now graces my home? I love giving these gifts and being able to tell the receiver of my gift the grace-story behind their present. It’s a bit magical, actually. And, if you lean more toward naturally healthy living, most fair trade products are sustainably, naturally made without chemicals.

The biggest markets that use labor slavery are coffee, sugar, cocoa, cotton, rice, and flowers. What?! Since watching Home For the Holidays, I’ve become hyper aware of things I have around me and the things I buy. Do you even realize how much we have that uses sugar, cocoa, cotton, and rice? What about our crazed love of coffee? For me, what about tea? Tea is another market that uses child labor slaves. And flowers? Flowers! This one blew my mind–flower markets that mass grow and harvest fresh-cut flowers use labor slaves. I’m heartsick. Really.

For the longest time, even before marrying my hardworking husband, I wanted my home to be, not a castle, but a sanctuary. A sanctuary of grace, of love, of peace. How better to design a sanctuary of grace than to fill it with things that tell a grace story? When I clean, I remember those living in the large slum in Ethiopia. I pray for the dear Indians who carved my cake stand and candlesticks. Each time I put on my colorful beads, I’m grateful those African girls have a home and can provide for their families. It’s a grace to look around and see the face of the maker of so much around me–chair hammock, nesting bowls, Christmas decorations, clothing, journals, kitchen utensils, soup mixes, handbags and market bags, candles, lip balm, soaps, linens, and just so much. This is grace. This is love. This is peace.

A decade ago, I met someone who changed my life, who saved my life, really. In a suicidal moment, I was appointed a therapist. We talked about deep things, about life, about troubling questions. I’d always been a bit haunted by wondering why I had so much when others had so little. Where was God’s fairness? I remember her slow smile, how it spread across her face and the light literally pouring from her eyes, her soul-windows. She knew.

We are blessed so we can be the blessing. God gave much to me, not so I can hoard or keep gaining for myself, but so I can give. I can live given and be a gift. There isn’t supposed to be such an imbalance, but a sharing. This is community. This is communion. This is how we can be the hands and feet and heart of Jesus.

So, Lily and I, we’re on a bit of a mission, a grace mission. We’re learning moment by moment true thankfulness for what we have and gratitude and humility that our great God, who breathed stars into existence, called us to bless others. We’d love to have you join us! You don’t have to overhaul your home and start anew, just start now. Maybe start with this holiday season and shop consciously and intentionally. There are so many opportunities to share grace: make gifts and home products, buy handmade items, shop from local or small personal businesses, visit farmer’s markets, buy secondhand, support ministries such as Amazima, Grace Crafted Home, and Mercy House Global. A little research and awareness goes a long, long way.

Bentley’s snuggled warm against my legs. I’d become so passionate in sharing my heart with you, I just noticed chilled toes. My tea and the fire has gone cold. Rudy’s tending the fire, and Lily has fallen asleep. I’d love to hear your heart, your story. We’re quiet, here, cocooned in our sanctuary of grace. His sanctuary.

Here is a list (always a list, right?) of resource links:

• mercyhouse.wpengine.com (list of fair trade companies)
• mercyhouseglobal.org
• gracecraftedhome.org
• amazima.org