07/25/2026
People often see the ribbon cutting, but they don’t see the road that led to it.
Someone asked how did we get our building, where could we have gotten the money.
I smiled and told her, “Dell and I invested our own money.”
What she couldn’t have known is that this bakery wasn’t our first attempt. It was our THIRD.
Before these doors ever opened, there were build-outs that didn’t work out, money we never got back, disappointments, long nights, hard decisions, and moments when we questioned if we should keep going. We paid a price that most people never see.
She then said, “I see everyone opening businesses. It must be easy… and rent here must be cheap.”
I gently explained that neither is true.
Building a business isn’t easy. Staying in business isn’t easy. And it’s certainly not cheap. We simply choose to carry the weight with faith, gratitude, and a smile because this is what we feel God is calling us to do in this season of our life.
That conversation reminded me of something…
When you see God blessing someone, celebrate with them. Don’t assume their success came easily.
You may be looking at years of sacrifice, prayers, tears, setbacks, lessons, and unwavering faith—all hidden beneath what looks like an “overnight success.”
It makes me think of the woman with the alabaster box. People saw the oil being poured out, but they didn’t know what it had cost her.
The next time you see someone walking in the blessings of God, don’t compare. Don’t minimize their journey. Celebrate them. Honor their perseverance. You never know the cost of the oil in their alabaster box.
And if you’re in the middle of your own journey, don’t give up. One day, someone will look at your blessing, never realizing the story it took to get there.
Today’s Sweetfirmation: Your testimony is often hidden in your triumph. Keep trusting God, and let Him write the rest of your story.
