hope

Celebrating Dorothy Bradford, The Encourager

Shaun Bradford

Today would’ve been my mom’s 68th birthday. I didn’t expect to feel as much grief as I’ve experienced this morning. Y’all, I miss my momma so much! I’ve been reading her writings (poems, notes, newsletters, etc.), and I thought I’d share one of the newsletters she used to write and send to her family and friends.

January 2003

She is so missed.♥️

Shaun

hope

Happy Heavenly Birthday Dee Ree!

Shaun Bradford
We were so unserious!😂

The picture above was taken during the summer of 1997, about a month before I left for Turkey , a week or so before my grandmother (mom’s mother) passed, and a year before my mom became paralyzed.

I remember that day so well. My mom had called a friend of hers to come take “professional” pictures of us. Basically, her friend had a professional camera, which meant our photos would be “professional.” I remember her fussing because 1) we did not want to take pictures, and 2) we really didn’t want to take pictures. She told us to throw on something halfway decent from the waist up and “come on take these pictures!” She said that our tops would be the only things showing. The lies!!😂

I was on leave and relocating, so most of my clothes were headed to Turkey. My sister and her son had come down from Kansas for a few days, so they didn’t have anything to wear. My younger siblings—including my teenage brother in the middle—were just there. They were used to her randomness. Y’all, the more she fussed, the more we laughed. She was the only one in the mood for pictures.

I don’t know where the final picture is—the best one taken—but this is the one I kept. To me, it was the most authentic. That was us! And it’s the only picture we have with all of us together with my mom.

Overall, that turned out to be a great day. She got her pictures, and we got to laugh and hang out together as a family. As I mentioned, my grandmother passed shortly afterwards. It was unexpected. My sister and I had just made it to Kansas when we received the call that Grandma had died.

Yes, she made Grandma take pictures too. Lol! And my baby girl wouldn’t act right for nothing!😂 Four generations of firstborns. I miss them!♥️♥️

All of this happened before our lives changed. Would I go back and do anything differently on that day? Honestly, I don’t think so. I think that day was perfect because Momma was happy.😊

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Dee Ree! All of your babies, grands, and your first great grand are doing well, but we really miss you. Sending you so much love.♥️🌺💗

Shaun

hope

Believe Again

Shaun Bradford

“… ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” Mark 9:24

It’s revival time!

It’s time to truly believe again. Over time, your faith has taken hits. You still believe, but what you’ve seen and experienced lately has made you somewhat leery of fully trusting and believing.

Today, I encourage you to believe again wholeheartedly. You will never fully experience all that God can do and has for you until you do.

It’s time to believe again!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

Shared on Instagram with the song “I Believe,” by Marvin Sapp. Click “View Profile” to listen.

**Just had an “Aha” moment. I believe Marvin Sapp is my Luther/JG of gospel. I can listen to him all day like I can Luther Vandross and Johnny Gill.