One of the famous things of Thailand is what is known as the Thai Massage. Having heard mixed reviews on them, I was a little hesitant to walk into the massage parlor and request such a thing, but at the same time my body could use it and 3 dollars for a full body, hour massage – who could resist?
A little uneasy, I was lead up some sketch stairs and to a mattress that was separated from others by a curtain. I then was asked to put their given clothes on and to lay down on the mattress. That day, I was particularly tired and was looking forward to falling asleep and waking up feeling awesome.
As the lady started massaging me, I couldn’t fall asleep. I sat there for a while and in my Spirit just felt lead to talk to this lady, which was a little strange considering many Thai people do not know a lick of English. However, I proceeded to talk to introduce myself and ask the masseuse what her name was. We then start talking about where she is from, her family, and so forth. To my surprise her English is phenomenal.
Before I know it, she starts opening up to me about being lonely and how her ex husband left her a long time ago. I was amazed at the level of trust that she had granted to me in such a short amount of time of being with me. After pouring out encouragement to her regarding her loneliness she starts telling me about her son, who is 15 years old, on drugs, and “not a good guy.”
I then start telling her how there is hope for her son. I assured her that I used to not be a “good girl,” but Jesus came and he set me free from that and He called me into relationship with Him, made me a new creation, and turned my whole life around.
She looked at me confused. At this point, I remembered I was in a country where less than 1% of people are Christians. I asked her if she knew Jesus and she said, “Who?” Then I said, “Do you know of God?” thinking she would have at least heard of that. She then nodded her head no and confirmed, “I do not know.”
I then told her that I would love to share with her my story and Jesus if she wanted to hear more about it. She said yes and it all started from there.
I began with creation and continued on through the whole story of the Gospel. This was the first time I had ever shared who Jesus was for the first time to someone. As I continued to add parts of my testimony in with the Gospel, she kept affirming her interest and admiration of who He was through words like, “Wow!”
I proceed to tell her of the love of Jesus and how His love for her never changes and never will – and she sits there in amazement.
She then started talking about how she doesn’t have a lot of money. I then am able to share with her my story of the Lord providing for me in different ways. After this, she tells me that it’s impossible for all of that. I reassure her that it’s not impossible and then she asked me the question that brought me to tears:
“How can I believe? I do not know how.”
I proceed to tell her that God is okay with her not knowing how to believe. He is also okay with helping her to believe. He loves her where she is at and that all he asks is for her to be open to Him and He will make himself real to her. I also told her that I would be praying for her son and when the Lord sets him free from drugs, that she needs to know to give glory to Him because He is the deliverer.
A little times passes, where we didn’t say much at all. During this time, I was relaxing and then all of a sudden my hands started beaming with heat. I knew I couldn’t leave this place without praying for this woman.
She finished my massage and then I asked her, “Are you sick with anything?” She immediately responded, “No!” Then hesitantly told me that she had a cold. I told her that the Lord told me to pray for her and that he was going to heal her. So I prayed for her cold to go away. I prayed for her son and I prayed for her salvation. The Lord then told me to give her my bible, so I did.
As I reached out to give it to her, she started crying and kept telling me, “No! No! This is too much. Too big of a gift.”
I reassured her that I wanted to bless her with it and that it was my pleasure to love and serve her in this way.
It was then, her co worker called her for more work and our time together was over.
I walked away amazed at how intentional the Lord is with us. He loved that lady so much He sent me. He trusted me to steward my time well with this woman and to represent Him how he should be represented. He trusted me with His story and to tell it to a woman for the first time.
What a life we are called to live, every day, everywhere.
It makes me wonder how many times I feel entitled to relax and miss out the opportunity to witness to others in whatever way He is wanting me to.
What if I would’ve just fallen asleep and didn’t wake up for the whole hour?
How will you steward your time in everyday life and will you allow yourself to be lead by Him?
Despite the mixed reviews, I would never take back my decision in requesting a Thai Massage.
