Generosity in poverty

Wednesday, I was hanging out at a friend's house, and was chatting with my friend's sister, Faviola.  She just turned 14 and is such a dear.  We were sitting around talking, and I told her I loved her shirt.  She replied "Gracias.  Te la regalo."  "Thanks.  Here, I'll give it to you."  I smiled and told her thank you so much, but she didn't need to do that! After all, I don't think her tiny little 14 year old frame wears the same size shirt as me. :)  She smiled back and said that yeah, it probably wouldn't fit me.   But I was just so awestruck at the generosity and simplicity of her offer.  She lives with her mom, grandma, dad, brother, sister, and 2 nephews, in a house with 4 rooms and an outside kitchen and outhouse.  They do bucket showers, and have dirt floors in their bedrooms.  Yet she was literally ready to give me the shirt off her back.  It made me think about how often I offer to help a friend, and how often I really would follow through as quickly, effortlessly, and without second-guessing myself as Faviola did with me.  As I was saying goodbye a little later, she gently held on to my arm, asking me to come with her for a second to the other side of the room.  There, she held up a pair of "fashion jewelry" earrings with rhinestones on them, and asked me "Do you like earrings? Would you wear these?"  When I told her yes, she sweetly placed them in my hand and gave me a hug.  I said goodbye to the family, giving everyone the customary kiss on the cheek, and left for the day, but I was so touched by this sweet young girl living in the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, who despite the poverty surrounding her knows truly and deeply what it is to give freely and generously.