Ewa.

Every so often, I meet a client who's outlook on life, given their circumstances, humbles me completely. It's a rude awakening- like a splash of cold water on the face...

Ewa is a pleasantly plump, mid 50s Russian woman, complete with a thick accent. She could easily play the role of Mrs. Claus in a local play. She was assigned to me for help with her medical insurance. She barely speaks English, so the language barrier makes reading the simplest sentence a huge mission. With my obvious lack of proficiency in Russian, we have a fun time playing charades. Most of the time, I'm just trying to convey something simple, like the fact that medi-CAL is just switching her provider and she has nothing to worry about, or that, her premiums are going down. No big life-changing news...

Ewa shows up unannounced... usually with a letter from Medi-CAL that she needs me to translate for her. I'll complete the task, and when I am done explaining, Ewa will reach over and pull a gift out of her black bag for me.

She NEVER shows up empty handed. No matter how small the task is for me to complete, our meetings never end without a gift, a card, a huge hug, and a kiss on the cheek- sometimes complete with a lipstick stain.

What's the big deal, right?

Well, Ewa makes around $900/month. She's mentally disabled, and she lives in a tiny single room in a subsidized "hotel." Regardless of all of these circumstances, her ability to give selflessly... affectionately & monetarily- is incredibly humbling. Her gifts are no small gesture either- from Valentine chocolates & a heart shaped card, to a full-on Easter basket, complete with fake grass. The cards are always written in English, and in cursive, with a "Miss" in front of my name... must've taken her hours.

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How can someone who has so little give so much?? My work for her is so insignificant and so small, that it does not merit the kind of gratitude she has.

No matter how many times I tell her to stop spending her money on buying me gifts, she always just laughs, smiles, and says, "Darling, you have no idea how much you help me. I am so thankful."

I usually give her a hug and sit back at my desk for a minute just trying to process her amount of generosity.

People tell me I have a care-free attitude... some call me a free-spirit... optimistic, by others. At times I'll believe that I am doing my part through this year of service to give to others. I generally agree, and then I meet with Ewa and feel kicked to the very bottom of an endless pit. She's winning the generosity race by dozens of miles...

The truth is, none of us in the middle to upper social classes can fully comprehend what it's like to be completely generous because we never give all that we possibly can. We get caught up in our busy lives, stressing over the state of our dire economy, worried about what's going to happen to our money. We'll make a monthly contribution to a Church, or even commit to a volunteer program for a year, and feel satisfied with our commitment to service, our levels of generosity...

The true givers are those who have nothing and give all... it is through Ewa's giving and my receiving, that I am challenged to do more. Give more. Smile more. Appreciate more.

If someone who has no one and lives in poverty can give of themselves completely, and project a face of happiness to others, how can the rest of us who are fortunate not?
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I don't know when I'll see Ewa again, and I like the mystery.

She shows up unannounced- like a little trick of fate, the universe telling me I need another jolt of her electricity...

Our next unscheduled meeting will as usual take place on a day where I will be running around, amid the stress and bustle of my everyday, and in desperate need of some perspective...

I can't wait.