Hearth & Home: Rethinking Christmas Giving

Thanksgiving dinner is officially over and Christmas is almost here! Last year I had a guest post on a friend's blog on holiday giving, challenging us all to give more simply and make a difference for the poor and hurting of the world. An excerpt is below.

During the holiday season last year, my side of the family decided to challenge each other in giving only handmade, used, or repurposed gifts, with very limited spending. The point was to be less focused on ourselves during the holidays and more able to give to others and help those in need. In the weeks before Christmas, we had to get creative, and gift-making took a little extra time, but we spent most of the time working together as a couple. Better yet, we completely avoided the mall and all retail stores. The result was a relatively peaceful Christmas, and one that was certainly more appropriately focused on Christ and showing genuine love to our friends and family through our gifts. Our gifts weren't lavish or extreme, but we were more excited about giving them away since so much more of our personal thoughts and efforts had gone into them. At least when we compared it to our typical - pick item off of a list, drive to the store, purchase, wrap.

Would you like to make your Christmas simple and affordable? Try some of these tips and challenge others in your giving circles to do the same. . . . .

Click here to read the whole post along with some easy, practical tips to simplify your giving this year!

I challenge you to take a look at your family's plans for gift-giving this season and think about what God might be calling you to do in order to bless those who are really in need. This season is, after all, solely about him and his true generosity toward us.

I also wanted to share some great resources and retailers for holiday shopping, along with charitable causes that are worth looking at. We have had personal experience with all of these in some way and highly recommend them. We'd love to hear about the charitable causes you support or your favorite places to buy slave-free, fair trade, or charitable products for your loved ones. Leave us a comment below and share with us! Do you have any unique "simple giving" traditions in your family?

Charitable Causes

Compassion International - Kiva - Michigan Abolitionist Project - Dagbe - International Justice Mission - The Salvation Army

Vendors

Better Way Imports - Women at Risk - Sak Saum - Senda Althetics - Ten Thousand Villages

If you are local to Michigan, there are some marketplaces and events coming up next weekend where you can buy fair trade gifts from artisans. Many of the products offered are made directly by individuals who have been rescued from slavery and your purchase helps ensure freedom and a living wage. Do you know of any other fair trade marketplaces coming up? Please share below!

Freedom Marketplace

December 7, 9am-1pm in Warren, MI

Free open house - open to the public
we'll be here!