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: |  |
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.
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.
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.
