The Rainbow Always Shows Up

Sometimes we get so busy chasing the next goal that we forget to stop and appreciate how far we've already come.

Lately, I've been reflecting on my journey. And when I look back, I'm undone by gratitude.

More than 30 years ago, I left Jamaica and landed in Teaneck, New Jersey. In October. In my early twenties. Let's just say — nothing in Jamaica prepared me for that cold. I remember standing there thinking, What in the world have I done?

My husband had moved ahead of me and sent for me; certain this was the best move for our family.

He had faith. I had a suitcase, a few dollars, and a whole lot of doubt.

For months, I cried.

I missed Jamaica, my home, my friends, my mom. I missed familiar. I was trying to learn a new country, a new culture, a new way of life — all at once, with no manual.

I'm sure my husband wondered, more than once, Is she ever going to adjust?

 Honestly?  So, did I.

There were hard moments, too — like my first job, where someone laughed at my accent. Small to them. Not small to me.

Back home, I'd worked at the Central Bank of Jamaica. Here, I started over — at Welch's Farm. From a professional title to entry-level, overnight. Talk about a plot twist.

But I made a decision: I would keep moving forward.

I didn't have it figured out. I just kept showing up and giving my best to whatever was in front of me. One job led to another. One opportunity became a stepping stone. And eventually, I landed in what would become my final corporate role — a career that lasted 26 years.

The same young woman wondering what she'd gotten herself into built a 26-year career. Earned her Bachelor's and her MBA. Paid for both, debt-free.

That wasn't luck. That was perseverance, faith, hard work, the grace of God — and the people He placed along the way who opened doors I couldn't open myself.

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

That's exactly what those early years demanded of me. Disappointment, again and again — but never enough to make me quit, pack my suitcase and move backwards.

More than 30 years later, I can say it plainly: coming to America has been one of the great blessings of my life.

Was it easy? Not even close.

Am I exactly where I want to be? Still working on it.

But I can see how far I've come — and that deserves a celebration, not a footnote.

So, if you're in a hard season today, hear me:

Your current circumstances are not the end of your story.

Keep going. Keep praying. Keep taking the next necessary step — even if it's just one. You may not see the breakthrough yet. That doesn't mean it isn't coming.

I came with a suitcase and a few dollars in my pocket. I didn't know what the future held. I just kept moving forward.

I still am — with gratitude in my heart, faith for what's ahead, and awe at just how far God has brought me.

The rainbow will show up. That is a promise

Keep going. Your story isn't over yet.

Love

Angie B