If you live in a fairly urban environment where hipsters are locally grown, I’m pretty sure you know what TOMS shoes are. Every super cool worship leader probably owns a pair which are kept next to the pile of deep v-neck shirts and aviator RayBan’s. I’m not a hater, I’m a documenter who loves noting the social trends 😉
Hipster in TOMS
To the shame of my openmindedness I pride myself in, I picked up a pair from the floor of my sister’s room with two fingers and displayed a look of confusion. Look Bianca, she said as she slipped on her 100% organic shirt over her tattooed arms and pierced nose, It’s not about the shoe itself. It’s about the cause. For every pair of shoes purchased, a pair is given to a child in a third world country.
I gave her one my well-isn’t-that-sweet smiles and blinked rapidly while trying to think of what to say next. I placed the smelly shoe on the floor and asked how much she paid for an archless, heel-less, fabuless shoe.
So let me get this straight, I asked to make sure I heard her correctly. You paid $45 for a shoe it took four dollars to make. But it’s considered altruistic because another four dollar shoe made in China will be given to a child who probably made the shoe themselves?! She gave me one of her you’re-so-annoying plastic smiles and nodded her head. I left the room feeling 1. upset that I touched smelly shoes and 2. more upset because some guy [who’s name isn’t Tom] is being deified for 10%.
Then I got smacked upside my head. By Tom.
How much do I give back to the Creator of the universe? Ten percent. The worst part? I feel so self-righteous for it. Yes God, look at me! I’m giving back to you! I’m so holy! No, not through acting like a boisterous Pharisee, but my nafarious heart was exposed by Tom and his cohorts.
It’s not how much we give. It’s how we give. Malachi 3:8 says we rob God when we don’t give Him what is required. But I don’t want to live in loving through what is required. I want to live in loving more than what is required. To give liberally and without reproach like the love and blessings that have been given to me.
How is God blessing you? How are you giving back? Are you tithing with a happy heart and open hand?
ok…i think its so cool u are talking about this becuz me and my hubby were talking about it this morning…please forgive me for being the emo one lately covered with doubt and questions that I feel like i should be slapped for asking…
if i am tithing with a happy heart, no weird motives (at least not that i am aware of)…can the blessings that might come thru that obedience be hindered by another disobedience? does that make sense…and yes sorry if my question seems self-serving or self-centered..or me trying to get something out of this…really I am not…it's just sometimes I get all crazy headed and legalistic against myself and feel like I am doing something wrong in my walk or relationship with Him that hinders blessings or even creates a disconnect or i feel distance…(notice how many I's are in the last sentence…can i get more self-absorbed?)
Again…we give with happy hearts and no motives…sorry if this takes things off topic…
Hmmm, I don't really think I have to whole picture. Can you give some more details?
By the way, you can ask questions every day. I don't care. In fact, I love it.
well…um I guess the question would be if i am obedient in one area but struggle with obedience in another will God's blessing be kept from me or …ummm…i think what my mind is doing is categorizing works for blessings…i need to do this to get that….or if i do this, btu don't do that, then He won't bless me at all…does that make sense?…maybe i am just being wacky right now…i'm starting to confuse myself..haha…..
Great reminder!
I just got my first pair of TOMS a couple of weeks ago and about died when I saw they were made in China! Seems a bit of an oxymoron, but all that aside, you brought up a great point… thanks for helping me think differently!
The God honest truth:
Your tweet was read the day before I had this encounter with my sister. You totally got me thinking and I did some research on TOMS and how the business is run. [There was a GREAT business discussion about through Rutgers school of business.]
All that to say, your tweets rock. I still remember the time you ate fried chicken and cried while watching Precious. I nearly snorted a laugh.
Giving is one of my most favorite things in the world! I learned a long time ago to give with a cheerful/joyful heart. But it took me a while to truly enjoy giving and not look at it as though something I needed or had to do. Whether I give of my time or money I always want to give it with joy!
Great post! 🙂
You have the gift of giving. I'm trying to grow in that area. I am one selfish girl when it comes to certain things. But I'm breaking…
That actually is a gift of mine but, I can be selfish too on certain things and as I have become more debt free I have learned more about giving!
I'm even trying to not go shopping this weekend and spend money on myself! I'm trying to keep my eye on the goal! 🙂
Oh my gosh, I love you! That's all I got! (and running your mass off??? hilarious!!!) thanks for the great post today 🙂
Yeeee! I love that you love it 🙂
Wow! Wonderful topic Bianca.
Just a few days ago I was having this conversation with a friend. I was telling him that I really want to be faithful in that area…tithing. I don't give my 10% to this…I am trying but I find that it's hard…not because my heart is not in it. I'm a single mom with only one income for me and my 2 babes…and it's hard.
I also sponsor a boy in Bolivia…and try my best to do kind acts. For example…this past week I bought a bible for someone at church. Every time I see him I only see him carrying a small one. The New Testament with the Psalms and Proverbs. I didn't know if he had one with the Old Testament or not but it was placed in my heart to gift him with one.
I am working towards giving my 10% but what I give, I give with a cheerful heart and the Lord has blessed me in many ways.
SO beautiful! I'm vlogging about this today… just for you, my friend. Love you and your heart!
Hi Bianca,
Let me say I LOVE your blog, but having just heard Blake (the founder of TOM's) speak at the college where I work, I thought maybe I could shed some light on what he shared with us on how he runs his business:
He told us that when he first got it going, he used a $40,000 loan from being bought out of an earlier business to invest back in TOMs. His friends said, "Well, why don't you just go ahead then and use that $40,000 and put it all back into just giving away 40,000 pairs of shoes if that's what your intent is."
To which he said, if I had done that, I would constantly be looking for the next chunk of money to give away (as a non-profit, you're reliant on those hand-outs). "But with TOMs as a business, I've been able to give away 400,000 pairs of shoes instead of 40,000 pairs."
Not to say you don't bring up good points (and not to say I myself couldn't be a LOT better at tithing), just wanted to clarify that if you ever get a chance to hear Blake speak, you should. You might feel differently about your sister's smelly pair 🙂
I will answer this question by question:
How is God blessing me: Since I've been off work my income has been reduced, yes we have had to make adjustments, but we still have what we need, nothing more and nothing less. God has blessed the 4 of us with..spending more time with each other, spending more time with Him, my Daughter was blessed with a job at Fed Ex. We have never gone without anything, all our needs have been met and we know that each blessing comes only from God. All of my work accident related care has been covered 100%. Our vehicles are in wonderful shape. My Husband has been getting overtime at work on a periodic basis. We did not have to pay taxes this year!
How are we giving back: serving where God wants, right now for my Husband and I it is a season of rest, but one thing I have noticed is that my Prayer time for others has gotten longer, I get called for prayer, emailed, text. Giving financially when ever we can, not just to our home church but for other causes as well.
Are we serving with a happy heart/open hand? Yes, with a happy heart…open hand, I, we never ever expect anything in return. We prefer to remain anonymous, in the back, out of sight. What we do is between Us and God and no one else. We learned that if we expect the world to return a favor, were gonna be waiting a long time…so do what you do in the quietness of your heart, so only God can see.
TOMS are made in China?! now I kinda feel like an idiot for thinking they weren't. i thought they were made in California or some other state in the US. they still are my most comfortable pair of shoes though. but i guess it's better to pay $45 for a pair of shoes, knowing that someone else will get a pair, than to buy a pair of designer shoes that are most likely uncomfortable and the only person they help is you by giving you a little ego boost.
Why you gotta be sippin the HATERADE, Bianca?!?! I think of my Toms much as I think of my French Bulldog….they're SO ugly, they're cute! 🙂 Does this mean I should take back the matching Toms I got for you and Matt for your wedding gift? Hmm.
you know what? it didn't even occur to me where they were made. here is my line of thinking…
I like simple tennis shoes that I dont have to wear socks with. So I bought Vans. They were almost $50. It probably cost them $4 to make those… but that's the price so its what I paid.
Then I came across TOMS. Same price as Vans… but a kid gets a pair of shoes too? Awesome! It's a business. But at least they are doing something. I'm going to buy shoes regardless, so if my shoes mean that another kid gets shoes too, then I guess I dont care if they only cost $4 to make.
🙂
I love French Bulldogs!!! I need to see more pictures of the dog I'm going to steal from you 😉
Matching TOMS? I love it. Matt said he'd totally wearing matching stuff. I'm worried he's serious.
I'm sorry…how is $4 shoe, costing consumers $45, 10% for TOMS shoe co.??
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