Cracked Roots & Roses 35: Michelle

I was booked to do a basic manicure one afternoon for a client named Michelle, so I went to the relaxation room to get her. When I called her name, and a tall blonde wearing a robe—having just had a massage—stood up, smiled, and said, “That’s me!” We went to the manicure room and got started.

I didn’t confirm if I had the right Michelle because it never occurred to me that there could be two at the same time having the exact same service. Halfway through the manicure, another tech came over and said, “I think you have the wrong Michelle.” Sure enough, I may have had the wrong Michelle in the natural, but in the spirit realm, I had the right Michelle.

I can’t tell you every specific detail, as this was years ago, but we hit it off. She felt like an old friend. At the time, she was an architect in Chicago and into new age practices—kind of like Jessica. They both acknowledged the earth more than God. They both talked about karma and being “good,” but we all know there’s none “good” but God.

Michelle quickly became a regular of mine at the spa. A few months into her appointments, I told her how I came to Christ and how I got into nails. She, in turn, told me she was raised Catholic but didn’t actively practice. My goal wasn’t conversion in those days; I just wanted to tell people about the Lord I had met. After a few more visits, she said, “I want to know the Jesus you know.”

That was music to my ears. I absolutely love telling folk what the Bible says about Jesus. After I tell them, I ask if they believe the Word and if they believe Jesus is the Son of God. If they say yes, I pray with them. Michelle said yes. Soon after, she began her walk with Jesus. She found a church, broke up with her long-term live-in boyfriend, got out of architecture (she didn’t like it) and started a business in a completely different field. She followed the Lord unapologetically and He directed her path.

Michelle continued with me as her nail tech for years, up until the COVID shutdowns and I was called to Texas. When I told her I was moving to Texas, she had me over for a farewell dinner before I left Chicago. She sent me home with gift cards for the road and this giant cookie.

A couple of years later, God called her to Florida, where she met her now husband—a wonderful man of God. They were married last year. We are still friends on Facebook.