Connect with us:
CHRISTIAN LEGAL AID OF LOS ANGELES
  • Events
    • 2022 Prayer Breakfast
  • Home
    • Our Staff
  • About
    • What We Do >
      • Our Services >
        • Our Clients
        • Blog
  • Donate
    • Micah 6:8
  • Get Involved
    • Learn
    • Volunteer
    • Pray
    • Intern
  • Contact
  • Español

A Beautiful Exchange

3/24/2016

1 Comment

 
This post was written by staff member Sharon Cho, who joined CLA-LA as our Administrative Assistant last fall.
​

Joining CLA-LA has been a gift to me. I didn’t completely know what I was signing up for as I joined the staff of two, but 6 months in I am eternally grateful that I have been given something that can never compare with any monetary value or treasure here on earth.

What has been given you ask?

The gift of humanity.

I’ll try my best to explain myself:
​

Picture
Working behind-the-scenes, and now having attended 6 clinics, it’s been an honor to witness the provision that CLA gives to those that don’t have the necessary means in obtaining it. I’ve seen countless clients, after meeting with our volunteer attorneys, looking satisfied as they walked away with specific plans tailored to their legal issues. 

However, the more that I get the chance to interact with these clients face-to-face or over the phone, I always tend to feel like I’ve received more from them than I actually do in the giving. 
​

​When they invite me into hearing their stories, I am reminded that the most vulnerable, unseen, and forgotten are in fact themselves sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers. They remind me of the commonality that we all share: we are all humans, a precious gift given to us by our Creator. 
​
Picture

One of the very first phone calls I had wrecked me in this revelation: 

The client was a mother of two who was going into trial in hopes to gain custody over her kids from an abusive ex-husband. Unfortunately, restricted from giving any kind of legal advice over the phone, the best that I could do in that moment was give her a reference to a family law center.

After she enthusiastically received the information, I asked her if I could end the call by praying for her. She immediately said yes with desperation. As soon as the word “amen” left my lips, she was in tears and exclaimed “I don’t even know your name and you’re a stranger, but I feel like I know you!”  
She proceeded to tell me that she felt the strength and courage to keep going and not lose hope because she was reminded that God was with her.  

More often than not, I meet with clients like this mother who are beyond thankful that somebody out there took the time to hear their story. As I give what I can with the resources that I have, I am met by a God who uses that moment to make Himself known, to reveal His unconditional love and provision He has for all of humanity.

Further, I’m always confronted with my own limitations to love and serve without measure; but it’s in these times that God reveals it’s His grace that meets us in our weakness - to strengthen, to love without conditions, to pour out without calculation, and to give without the need of return. 

As we enter this Easter weekend, let us remember the beautiful exchange that occurred that day on the cross - when a loving King came to exchange all of who He was for the redemption of all of creation. CLA-LA has shown me that this same exchange can be made possible here and now, as we continue to commit ourselves to loving the one in front, drawing out the best in one another, and in turn, fully living out this gift we call humanity.  ​
1 Comment
vidmate.onl link
12/2/2022 06:23:06 am

Thanks for sharing the article, and more importantly, your personal experience of mindfully using our emotions as data about our inner state and knowing when it’s better to de-escalate by taking a time out are great tools. Appreciate you reading and sharing your story since I can certainly relate and I think others can to

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About Us

    This blog is written by staff, supporters, and friends of CLA-LA to encourage the pursuit of justice in every area of life.

    While legal information may be posted from time to time, it is for educational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

    If you need legal advice, contact a lawyer. We may also be able to provide referrals in some situations.


    Newsletters


    Archives

    April 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All
    Doing Justice


​Donate Now
Get Involved
​
​Media

Copyright © 2019 Christian Legal Aid of Los Angeles
Legal Documents
Picture