Tag: authenticity

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

Can’t believe it’s Wednesday, already! It’s a little after midnight where I am so I have decided to go ahead and write.

Life is full of highs and lows. Seems like as soon as you experience a high you need to start preparing for the low– the unexpected low.

Yesterday was a pretty sad day. I woke up to the news that one of the artists from the rap group Migos had passed. I’m not sure if it was my daughter waking me up in tears that made the news seem more devastating or the fact that he was so young. All I kept thinking was that could’ve been my son. He was only 28.

Then, I visited my mom in the hospital and she wasn’t having a good day. She thought she was going to be discharged only to find out everything had been delayed. She cried and screamed and nothing I said or did consoled her. It was a lot. Yeah.. yesterday was a lot.

I’m going to attempt to go back to sleep now. I pray that the rest of the day goes well. I pray that those who are hurting mentally, emotionally and physically experience peace and comfort. Lord, please help us. Amen

Life

Listen

Shaun Bradford

Be still and listen.
Be quiet and listen.
The answer’s there.
Just listen.

Once you’ve received your answer, it’s on you to accept it or not.♥️

Learning and growth is lifelong. It seems like every day I’m either learning something new or accepting what I have already known (growth).

I tend to talk to God a lot; however, I don’t always take time to listen. Or, I hear Him, don’t like the answer, and keep talking. Either way, He always provides answers.

Here’s what I’m learning:

  • If I listen the first, second or third time (yep.. I’m stubborn at times), I won’t have to keep repeating the same things.
  • Sometimes the answers will take me outside my comfort zone. I have to move while afraid, uncertain and uncomfortable.
  • God’s answers can contradict reason and logic. Yes, I’m learning to stop trying to make sense of things.
  • God will confirm His answers. I will say that nowadays He confirms them much faster than before, or not. Maybe the confirmation has always been there but I was not open to receiving the answer(s).

Going forward, my goal is to be intentional about listening, accepting and acting on God’s answers.

Shaun

Life

Still Standing

Shaun Bradford

Smile. You’re still standing!

Yes.. After all you’ve been through, you are still standing. You survived!♥️

This year has taught me that I cannot keep running from the storms, the pain, the disappointments, the heartaches. No, I have to stand in them and through through them. Sometimes I feel like I’m getting too old for this. I’m too tired. Then, God reminds me that He’s strong when I’m weak. All I have to do is lean on Him. He’s brought me through before and He’ll do it again. BUT.. I have to go through it. Running from it only delays the breakthrough. It delays progress, which delays the dream.

Standing!

Shaun

Life

What’s Your Definition of Love?

Shaun Bradford

How do you define love? Is it patience, kindness and understanding?

How do you show it? How do you receive it?

Unfortunately, love isn’t black and white or one size fits all. How one person shows or receives love can be very different from the next.♥️

A few months ago I took the 5 Love Languages quiz– https://5lovelanguages.com. Took it twice and a similar quiz, and the results were the same. My primary love language is Quality Time followed by Words of Affirmation. If you haven’t taken the quiz, you really should. It’s pretty interesting.

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford
Not my will, but God’s.

Below is a Facebook memory from three years ago. Today, I needed this reminder. Everything I do is to support God’s purpose. It’s not about me.

Facebook Memory September 14, 2019:

Have you ever asked God why He chose you? I have. Sometimes I still do. Y’all, we were chosen for a reason. He chose us, with all of our imperfections, to fulfill whatever purpose He has. He’s so awesome!

I don’t know what lies ahead, but I do know I was chosen for a reason. For this, I’m forever grateful.

To this day, I still don’t know what lies ahead. So much has happened since I made that post. I didn’t know I would suffer one of the biggest heartbreaks of a lifetime. I didn’t know that I would be a coauthor in a book. I didn’t know that I would finally take the leap and leave my job– without a backup plan. I didn’t know that I would be one of the primary caregivers for all three of my parents. I didn’t know that by resting in God, and truly allowing Him to lead, that I would experience such peace. Y’all, I actually feel like a Queen at times. Smiling. I haven’t had to want for anything. God is sooo good.

Today, I’m still perplexed about why God chose me. Why He entrusted me with so many responsibilities, while treating me like royalty. I pray that I’m making Him proud. I pray that I’m doing a good job fulfilling His purpose.

Shaun