I have some very fond memories of my parents bakery. It was more than a place to come and get something sweet to eat or a quick meal. It was a place where people came to visit. It was a place where preachers and preacher students came to eat lasagna on Wednesdays. It was a place where friendships were formed and grew into lasting relationships all because of a donut. It was a place where happy moments were celebrated and sad moments were prayed about. That was and still is my favorite part of my parents bakery.

The bakery closed in 2001, but if you mention Deagel’s Pastries and More in Moundsville, WV, you still get “I miss that place” and “they had the best…” whatever thing they liked the best. If it wasn’t for my parents bakery, I don’t think I’d have this giant sweet tooth or the baking experience or the appreciation for their sacrifices or the fond memories of this family business. It was the time with my family that made this place the sweetest place for me.

If you have been keeping up with the blog, this Sweet Scripture and Sweet Sacrifice that we have been talking about brings us to this, our sweet sisterhood. Without God’s sweet word and without the sweet sacrifice of our Lord, we would not be a part of this sweet sisterhood. Some of you who so kindly take the time to read our blog I do not know, but we have this connection already because of Jesus.

Jesus prayed for all of us in His prayer in John 17. Let’s look specifically at verses 20-23-

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

We are all one in Christ Jesus. That is what Jesus wants for us, so much so that He prayed about it before we were ever born. Our life that we are living this very day was on the mind of our Lord some 2000 years ago. It’s through this oneness that we can see God’s love for us. He didn’t have to give us this sweet sisterhood to enjoy. But thanks be to God for this fellowship that we have with Him and with each other as we are continuing to walk in His light (1 John 1:3-7).

It is through this sweet sisterhood and oneness we can:

Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Encourage one another (Hebrews 3:12-13)

Build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)

Love one another (John 13:34-35)

Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)

Bear with one another (Colossians 3:12-13)

Be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:8-9)

Be kind to one another and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)

Now just so you know not everyday at the bakery was sweet. Yes, sweets were made, but some days the attitudes were not sweet. Some days the stress of life crept in and tempers were as hot as the ovens. Unfortunately, sometimes we can get that way with those we love.

We have two of our sisters in the Lord mentioned in Philippians 4:2,3

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Our two sisters were called out by Paul in his letter to the Philippians because they had a disagreement. Paul did not call them out to bring shame on them or to embarrass them, although it probably did. I think he mentioned them because he knew of the ramifications a disagreement between two Christians can cause. Paul did not ignore the issue. He wanted them to find that unity they once had in the Lord. He reminded them of who they belonged to. And he enlisted others to help them to resolve their differences. Disagreements happen because we are human, but in an endeavor to keep things sweet, we need to remember our goal.

The goal of the bakery was to make sweets, sell sweets, and keep our family sweet. Our goal as sisters is to make God’s sweet scripture our meditation, grab hold of and always remember the sweet sacrifice of our Lord, and keep ourselves and our sweet sisters on this path together towards our sweet reward through Christ.

Oh how sweet it is to be loved by our God!

By: Kristina Odom