TOMS.

I didn't ask for many gifts this past Christmas. I am so blessed, as is, that I have very few wants and even fewer needs. One of the things I did ask for, however, was a pair of TOMS Shoes. For those of you not familiar with TOMS, here's a statement from their official website: "TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about" (http://www.tomsshoes.com/content.asp?tid=227).

I love my TOMS. Not because they're the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned - though they are. But the reason I love TOMS goes beyond the typical comfort factor. I love my TOMS, because every time I wear them I feel like I am part of something larger. Now, every time I look down and see my shoes, I am reminded that there are people in this world who have never had the luxury of wearing any type of shoe. This realization challenges me. Now, when I bounce on my toes, I think about the child who received my pair of shoes. I wonder if, somewhere out there, they're bouncing on their toes, too. Now, when I go for a walk, I pray for that child. I pray that they experience love and grace. I pray that they learn to dance with joy.

Now, I am a walking billboard. One step at a time.

Wearing TOMS has not made me a giant. But, I feel like I stand a little taller these days.

Without wax,

Sarah.