My Captive Audience

The manicurists at my nail salon nicked my fingers three times. Three nicks and they’re out. So, I go to a new salon where I meet June. She is all about pleasing me, and bonus, she speaks English very well.

We get through the newcomer chatter, and then I go into an internal zone, but not for long. The heavenly nudges start. June is my captive audience. What do I have to lose? I find out she’s 20-years-old, lives with her uncle and aunt and their two young boys. She misses her family in Vietnam.

I know I need to go in for more: “So, June, what are your dreams?” June replies: “I go to college two days a week to become a pharmacist. But I don’t want to stop there. I want to become a doctor, but it’s going to take so long!” Now, I step up my “Mama Donna” mode.

We talk about God’s love and plans for her. I urge her to let Him be a part of her life and He’ll help her. I say, “Play the movie in your mind. Six or eight years will go by whether you continue with your dreams or not. The movie is playing. See yourself graduating and serving in a clinic or hospital and making a good income. Or see the movie where you stop your studies and at the end of six or eight years, see yourself wishing you had stayed with it and regretting your decision.” She says, “I’m not quitting!”

Then I go in for the jugular. “June, do you believe in God?”
June: “I’m Buddhist”.
Donna: “I understand that Buddha was a very good man.”
June: “Yes, he taught when we do good, we receive good.”
Donna: “That’s what I believe too! Jesus said, ‘You reap what you sow!’ The beautiful part about God is that He loved us all so much that He gave His Son to us, and He died for us. But the best part that’s different from Buddha is Jesus didn’t stay dead. He’s alive and He lives in our hearts when we invite Him in.”

June finishes my nails – best manicure in a long time. She starts to stand up. I ask her “Can I pray for you?” Wide-eyed, she says, “Here? Now?” I say, “Yes”. She sits down and I hold her hands and pray: “Heavenly Father. Oh, how much you love June. She’s your daughter and she has big dreams. I pray that she is given the willpower to finish strong in whatever she pursues. I pray that she wants to pursue You with all her heart and come to know you and your Son in a real and personal way. In Christ Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen! I love you, June!”

June: “I love you too! Will you come back?”
Donna: “I will be back. “

Going to the nail salon is usually settling in for a relaxing, it’s-all-about-me experience. I usually tune out the manicurist because of a language barrier. But, this day, I was on a mission. I like to think that I’ll see June again. When I do, I’ll water the seeds I planted a little more. I pray that someone else will come along and water the seeds, too.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” (I Corinthians 3:6)