ticket to give

In my inbox on Saturday, I received an e-mail from TOM’S, the shoe company.

This isn’t out of the ordinary.

I receive their e-mails from time to time, with their latest discounts or newest products.

Since receiving a pair of TOM’s for Christmas, I’ve taken to deleting the e-mails without even much of a glance.

{ Sure I’d love another pair, but I don’t NEED another pair so why torture myself looking at all the shoes I want but can’t have? }

But this time as I went to delete the e-mail, something caught my eye.

Instead of shoes, I saw the words – “ticket to give”.

I’m assuming most of you have heard of this company, but if you haven’t, here is the only thing you need to know: “One For One”

For every purchase of TOM’S shoes, they will give a pair to a child in need.

Recently, I think they have done the same with their glasses – for every purchase, they will help give sight to a person in need.

A “ticket to give” is part of their giving trips – when they travel to third world countries & give shoes directly to those in need.

50 of their most voted for entries will get to partake in a giving trip.

Normally, I think I would have still deleted this e-mail, not thinking I really stood a chance.

& truthfully because in the grand scheme of things, I thought, how are shoes going to help?

But for some reason, I paused.

Perhaps even because that previous thought reminded just how much I take comfort and warmth on my feet for granted.

The question became, how wouldn’t shoes help?

& I thought, why not?

So, I created my entry, which involved picking a picture, choosing a word and writing an essay (100 words or less).

My word was faith.  (More on that later.)

TICKET TO FAITH.

& what I wrote for my essay was this:

“Inspired by: ‘Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.’ -Helen Keller.  My story is not so unique.  It is actually quite like the rest of yours.  Through the years, I’ve become increasingly aware of the overwhelming amount of pain & sadness in this world.  I need to see that there is still goodness.  & I want to be proof of that goodness – to share in spreading that kindness for no other reason than to lift someone else’s burden.”

You can see my entry here.

Check it out & maybe even make an entry for yourself.  What could it hurt?!

Voting doesn’t begin for another month, but don’t worry – I’ll remind you.

About these ads