Tag: gratitude

Life

Memory Worth Sharing

Shaun Bradford

Here’s a Facebook memory from this date four years ago, August 30, 2019:

“Good Morning! God is just so good!! I’m up and feel like sharing. Lol.

Yesterday I shared Tyler Perry’s testimony about his accomplishments. Y’all already know how excited I get when I see God working, especially in Tyler’s life. It allows the world to see just how magnificent our God is. Whew!! If he didn’t acknowledge God, I wouldn’t be sharing his posts. For real!

Now, Tyler has his own dreams, and God’s in Atlanta SHOWING OUT!!💃🏽 So, what are your dreams? Your dream may not be like everyone else’s. Believe me, I struggled with this for the longest, and still do from time to time, especially when everyone’s promoting entrepreneurship. For a while I felt like if I wasn’t trying to own my own business, I wasn’t on the right track. Recently God showed me I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m on track. (I’m telling y’all, journaling is awesome. Last night I found a few entries from 1992. God is so amazing!)

Anyhoo… here’s my dream. My dream is to help others see their potential and live their best lives. That’s it. So simple. And guess what- God has allowed me to see it happen. Words can’t even describe how I feel when I see y’all accomplishing your goals. It’s like God has given me access to something so wonderful and beautiful. When I see you struggle, I pray for you. When I see you achieve your goals, I celebrate with you and pray for you even more.

I said all of this to say, don’t try to live someone else’s dream. Live your own, even if it’s not profitable financially. When you start living your truth, you’ll start receiving blessings like crazy! I truly believe it’s because God wants us to be happy, and when He sees us happy, it makes Him want to love on us even more. I just love Him!!! When I tell you He knows how to make me smile.. WHEW!!!

Okay, that’s all. Keep believing. God IS working. You may not see it, but the more effort you put into your dream, the more He works. I love y’all! Don’t give up!”

Here is what I was referring to – Tyler Perry Studio receiving its highway sign, a sign I got to see in person a couple of years ago. Talk about soooo cool!

God is so good!

Great memory, right?! Has me feeling grateful this morning. Back then I wrote: “My dream is to help others see their potential and live their best lives. That’s it.” Well, that hasn’t necessarily changed. I do want to see others reach their fullest potential and live their best lives. However, I finally realize it’s okay for me to do the same and live my best life also. So here I am four years later, doing just that – finally an entrepreneur, living on my own terms, not obligated to do anything I do not want to do, and pursuing my dreams. I’m not going to lie, it’s been one of the hardest things to do, but I am finally doing it. Again, I’m grateful. Grateful and blessed.♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Today’s a new day and the first day of a new week. Whatever goals we failed to accomplish last week can be accomplished this week. Don’t sweat it!

This week let’s remember to:
– consult God first
– follow His guidance
– give ourselves grace if we falter
– keep going

I am a living witness that everything will work out according to God’s plan.

Transparent moment…

I really wanted to end my encouraging words with – “We may not always understand His plans, but know that they will always work out in our favor.” But every time I wrote that or something similar like – “whatever His plans might be” – I would erase it. Didn’t want to taint the encouragement with any notion of unpleasantries. Well… life and God’s plans are not always pleasant. Honestly, sometimes they are downright hard to comprehend and they hurt.

Exactly one year ago, my mom was admitted to the ICU and was in a coma for almost a week. Nothing was the same afterwards. She suffered for months before she passed. Honestly, it’s so hard to see the good in any of it other than our bond became stronger. But why couldn’t it have happened differently? Why couldn’t the same thing have happened while she was better? We could have done so many more things together. UGH!!!

Even though part of me wants to encourage others and myself, the other part of me is sad and hurting at the moment. Y’all, I miss my momma! All I want to do is scream!!!!

Yeah… this is how I’m really feeling today. I do pray that you have a blessed day and an awesome week. Be blessed.♥️

Shaun

P.S. I am going to be okay. I know God’s got me.

I love you, Momma.
Life

Submit and Commit to the Process

Shaun Bradford
You cannot start, skip the middle (the process), and go straight to the end. Nothing in life happens this way.

Short story…

When I was a teen, I wanted to play the piccolo. My sister and one of the girls at church played the flute. Well, I did not want to be like them (always had to be difficult different). I wanted to play the piccolo. Everyone I asked about how I should get started said that I would have to learn to play the flute first. Y’all, I wasn’t even in band or interested in playing other instruments, but I was drawn to the piccolo. I believe it was because it was so tiny and cute. I’m a sucker for tiny, cute things. Well, starting with the flute was not going to happen so I never played the piccolo. One day I’m just going to buy one and teach myself to play. That’s what YouTube is for, right? Laughing

Anyhoo… this is how my life has been since as far back as I can remember. I want what I want and I want it how I want it. Don’t judge me. Over time I have gotten better. Listen, I hate all of the in between stuff. I say I love watching God work (the progression) in my life; however, sometimes I feel He can skip a few steps. Y’all, my patience for getting from points A to Z is very short. Not sure if it’s my attention span (because I swear I have ADHD), or if I am just impatient. Either way… at 50 years old… I am finally completely submitting to God’s plan (I might get sidetracked every now and then– Lol) and following all of His steps. If I want XYZ, I have to go through the entire process. Y’all, I have to stop being so stubborn. Ugh!

My mantra for this current season is “I am submitting and committing to the process.”

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Love you.♥️

Shaun

Life

Expect the Unexpected

Shaun Bradford

Blessings are headed your way! Expect the unexpected.♥️ ~Shaun

God is so good! Just keep praising and honoring Him unconditionally, and I guarantee He WILL bless you.
Life

Grace

Shaun Bradford

Grace: Courteous goodwill.

Thankful for God’s grace. We know we do not deserve it, yet we receive it daily. Talk about blessed!♥️ ~Shaun

We are blessed.
Life

Willing to Eat Alone

Shaun Bradford

As soon as I got to my dad’s and hugged everyone, my sister waited until we were alone to ask if I had found a “boo” yet. Laughing as I think about it because that’s like the first thing everyone asks me. I’m so happy my dad has finally stopped asking. His thought now is that I’m too mean. Now, why would he think that? Laughing. I just don’t have time for nonsense.

With all that being said, I know I have written about being ready to love again, and at times I feel it more than others. However, I am actually good with where I am. No longer in a hurry, especially since it didn’t happen before 50. Yeah… 50 was my deadline for finding love. Now I’m like it happens when it happens.

Back to my conversation with my sister. So she tells me that my ex is in a relationship (she saw it on Facebook). Even though I don’t follow him on Facebook, I know he’s been in a relationship for a few years now. Didn’t think it was worth discussing. That’s his business. Anyhoo, she goes on to say that I can’t let him outdo me. That I need to find me a boo too. Hilarious! Baby, this is not a competition. Shaking my head laughing.

Just saw this quote a few minutes ago. Basically, it sums up how I feel about being in a relationship.

More than willing to eat alone until then.

Listen, I don’t have to settle for any old table just to keep up with someone else, nor do I have to rush a thing. Just because I am ready to love again doesn’t mean I am desperate. I’m kind of glad God didn’t do things on my timetable because I probably would have settled. He really does know what’s best.

Grateful♥️

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

I actually slept all night! Believe I fell asleep around 11 PM and didn’t wake up until 5 AM. I needed the sleep.

Yesterday, one of my friends drove down to have lunch with me and we talked for hours. Y’all, I needed the company. I needed to feel like an individual again. I needed to feel like Shaun again. It felt so good to be able to freely express myself without judgement or tiptoeing around feelings. Grateful for true friendships.

I’m going to leave you with a few gems from August 6th (wish I could share them all):

Facebook Memories

All it takes is ONE.

There’s only ONE you. Chosen.♥️

I have loved basketball for decades (since high school). Went to one BIG3 game and knew I wanted to own a team. Optimistic.😊

Trust God’s plan.

I pray that you have a joyful day. Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Present and At Peace

Shaun Bradford

Had forgotten about the theme I had chosen for this year, “Present and at peace.” Life started happening and my focus shifted from drawing from my inner peace to focusing on things happening around me. And about a good 90 percent of those things were someone else’s problems. My daughter says I internalize other people’s problems. She says it’s okay to empathize with them but their problems are theirs. And she’s absolutely right. I’m listening.

So today, I am once again choosing to stay present – only focusing on what’s in front of me – and at peace. Praying you do likewise. Have a wonderful day!♥️ ~Shaun

Staying present isn’t easy but it is so necessary to remain at peace.
Life

I Received My Answer

Shaun Bradford

I’m not sure what’s going on with me waking up around 3:00/3:30 AM nowadays. Like, I’m wide awake. Then around 5:30/6:00 AM, I find myself falling back to sleep. At first it was annoying, but now I just start everything two hours earlier, then take a nap before officially getting up. Anyhoo…

After waking up with Marvin Winans’ song, Draw Me Close to You/Thy Will Be Done, playing over and over in my head, and much needed prayer time with God, I received my answers. I know what’s wrong. Not going to go into details because those revelations were just for me. Now that I understand what the problems are, I can deal with them. Now, how I choose to do it is totally up to me.

Here’s what I’ll call one of the “solutions” to the revelations. Listen, it had me shaking my head and smiling at the same time. Y’all God is so good. It’s an excerpt from one of my journal entries from this date. Debating whether or not to share the entire entry. Will let you know what I actually decided before I hit publish.

Shaun’s Journal Entry: August 4, 2014

So I’ve decided not to fight it any longer. I may as well give in and just let things be. No, I’m not happy, but as I’ve told others many times before, make yourself happy. So life has given me a barrel of lemons & grapefruit. Time to make sour punch (sounds gross huh?). Oh well…

God will work it out. Turn it over to Jesus, he will work it out! He can, he can, work it out. You won’t even have to touch it. Hallelujah!!

Although that entry was about something completely unrelated to what I am currently going through, I believe it was written for this very moment. Nine years ago, God already knew exactly what I would need to get through this time. So yes, I’m smiling and now tearing up. I needed those words of encouragement. I’m turning everything over to God. I won’t have to lift a finger or touch a thing. He will work it out. Amen

By the way, I shared the entire entry. All of it was relevant. I keep telling y’all God loves me. Smiling

Praying you have a blessed weekend. Thanks for reading. Love you!♥️

Shaun