Life is heavy right now. There’s heart break on every single TV. War, invasion, death, loss. All the things. Doesn’t it feel like we should be past this kind of thing in 2022?! I’m simultaneously heart broken and mad while feeling incredibly guilty. Why am I here sitting safely in my home with my babies in my lap, fed and clothed? Heck, tomorrow is my birthday and I just got a birthday massage tonight.  If you needed a reminder of the sin lurking in hearts and the evil humans are capable of turn on your TV. How do you help?

I don’t think it’s news to anyone that I believe in the power of prayer. I start there.  And then I google ways of buying a tank. That’s not a tangible thing at the moment, turns out, so we turn to allocating funds to help workers on the frontline, small shops and businesses. I hopped on Etsy and went through shops I had made purchases from and could be sure they were a “real shop” that hasn’t just sprung up overnight. There are some amazingly talented artisans in the Ukraine.  I found this news article helpful (thank you Caroline Pacula for posting this!) because scammers are very real. Avoid small GoFundMe accounts that pop up and can’t be vetted, sad though that is.

ETSY SHOPS

Here are a couple small Ukrainian Etsy shops I have made some purchases from (or want to when shipping is available again). Given the war, you aren’t getting a physical copy, often a PDF so know you are supporting their shops with a donation.

TsvitanaLove

HandmadebyIrynaToys

AllWoodenBiz (Oksana doesn’t have donations at this time or updates on her shop but she does have some beautiful products. I’ve had several saved for my kids for awhile. Clearly she isn’t going to be able to ship these right now but like her shop and follow her for future purchases.)

JamoisShop 

Monika Hibbs posted on Instagram some ways to help out too. You can join their contribution here.

Friends I know that this is barely scratching the surface and that’s a hard thing to sit with. When you want to race in and help families, comfort kiddos, take care of confused animals–defeat the enemy. But we’re not all able to be on the frontlines but we sure as heck can help out in small ways. There are armies of love moving in and towards Ukraine. Pray.

“Do not despair, dear heart, but come to the Lord with all your jagged wounds, black bruises, and running sores. He alone can heal, and He delights to do it. It is our Lord’s office to bind up the brokenhearted, and He is gloriously at home at it.” –Charles Spurgeon.