hope

Wide Awake

Shaun Bradford

Y’all, why am I wide awake like it’s 8:00 in the morning and not around 1:00 AM. Shaking my head. I had basically written a whole book about my Bell Biv Devoe experience only to decide not to share it. Believe me, it wasn’t anything juicy, just more than I needed to share. Anyhoo, I’ll share the Facebook memory that prompted it.

Facebook Memory: August 16, 2014

When I say I was devastated! I must have made that post after midnight because I said they had already performed that night. Well, they actually performed later on that day. The video I saw on the website was an advertisement.

As I said in the post, I had never won anything before winning those tickets. I always refer to them as a gift from God. For years I had wanted BBD or New Edition to perform at one of my birthday parties and the day before my 41st birthday I won tickets to the Jackson R&B Festival. Y’all, I didn’t even know who was performing until after I won the tickets. So, BBD being included in the lineup was the best surprise. Although I had to wait almost two months before I got to see them, it was so worth the wait. Great memory!

Well, good night. I’m finally sleepy.♥️

Shaun

hope

Stop And Breathe

Shaun Bradford

Not only did I have to remind myself to stop and breathe yesterday, but I had to do it just now. As I said in the memory below, the world is not going to fall apart while I take a few moments for myself. I’ll get back to everything in a few.♥️ ~Shaun

Facebook Memory: August 15, 2022

“Sometimes you have to stop and rest. Believe me, the world is not going to fall apart because you decide to take a moment for yourself. Remember, you cannot serve or give if you’re depleted.🪫”

This was the picture I used with the caption. Hmmm… wondering if I should go back short and add a little color. We shall see.😊
hope

God Is The Joy And The Strength Of My Life

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!

Facebook Memory: August 15, 2022

“I can hear James Cleveland’s choir singing:

‘God is the joy and the strength of my life. He removes all pain, misery and strife. He promised to keep me. Never to leave me. He’ll never ever fall short of His word… God is my all and all.’ Amen”

Yes, God is my all and all. Praying you have a blessed day.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Facebook Memories

Shaun Bradford

One of the reasons I check my Facebook memories daily is because I get to see past interactions from loved ones who have passed on. Reading their comments or just seeing their names pop up on the screen makes me feel like they’re still here. They’re just far away. This is also why I don’t delete all of my text messages or voicemails (I always hold on to 2-3). When I need to hear their voices or read their last words, I can. So blessed to have had them in my life.♥️ ~Shaun

My momma is still with me.🥰 And…great quote!😁 I try my best to live by this.
hope

Guard Your Heart, Part 2

Shaun Bradford

Hello! I am still thinking about my previous post. Even though we should place our hearts in God’s hands, we must also do as instructed—guard our hearts. Y’all, guarding our hearts isn’t something we should do passively. It’s something that we must do actively and strategically. It’s on us to actively monitor what we allow in and what we allow to be taken. It’s up to us to say, “Nah, I won’t allow that in my space.” Not just physical space but headspace. Or say, “I allowed it in but I won’t allow it to take my… joy, peace, or love (feel free to add whatever you like) with it when it leaves.”

Actively guard your heart.

♥️

Our hearts are the source of life, encompassing love, peace, joy, happiness, kindness, compassion, empathy, passion, and even our dreams. We must, at all costs, protect it.♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

hope

Guard Your Heart

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! Six years ago, I wrote, “When the heart hurts, life seems to stop.” Not sure why I felt this so deeply. Again, when the heart hurts, life seems to stop. You continue to move forward but something inside of you stops flourishing. Yeah…that’s deep.

Proverbs 4:23 says— “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Everything we do flows from our hearts.

A few days ago, I wrote, “Protect your heart but let love in.” Although difficult, I believe it’s possible to do both when we place our hearts in God’s hands. Of course heartbreak will hurt, and life in some capacity will stop flourishing, but God has a way of soothing us until we heal and begin to flourish again. I truly believe this. We must believe this or life will stop.

Here’s the entire post from six years ago.

Facebook Memory: August 14, 2018

“Guard your heart. When the heart hurts, life seems to stop. I’ve found the best way to guard your heart is to put it in God’s hands. Disappointments will come; however, God has a way of making everything better. His love is so soothing. That’s why I love my God.

The entire scripture reads, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”- NIV”

Photo Credit: Unknown

Remember, everything we do flows from our heart—both good and bad, whether intentional or not. Guard your heart.♥️

Love you,

Shaun