Tag: growth

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

Your Blessings Will Find You

Shaun Bradford

Already up reading past journal entries so I may as well write. This particular message is a brief summary of what I wrote eight years ago, August 2, 2015.

Message…

Your blessings will find you. You won’t have to seek them out, God will deliver them to you. Remain faithful.

Eight years ago, I was at one of my lowest points in life. I had recently separated from my ex; car was breaking down every other day; house was going into foreclosure; and I didn’t know if I would get the raise that I so badly needed. That was eight years ago. In that same journal entry I wrote –

“I feel like the world is weighing down on me. This load is very heavy, but I thank God for helping me make it daily. The steps forward are very small, but I do know I’m moving forward.”

Despite what I was going through, I knew deep down I was moving forward. Later on that same evening, I had received an email from the department chair saying that they had petitioned for me to receive an even larger increase in my salary from what we had discussed. I didn’t even have to lift a finger. God intervened on my behalf.

Since then, I have been up and I have been down, but never that far down. Even with setbacks I have constantly moved forward. I was listening to a message yesterday where the young lady said your setbacks have made you stronger. And she was right, each setback did make me stronger. What would’ve taken me out eight years ago seems like child’s play today. God is good!

That’s all for today. I haven’t been drawing like I used to. Feel like I’m running out of flowers to draw. Maybe I need to really focus on drawing one thing and perfecting it. I’ll let you know how that works. Until I draw something new, I will reshare from my Facebook memories. Here’s what I shared last year. Be blessed.♥️ ~ Shaun

Stay focused.
Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Woke up with Smokie Norful’s, “I Need A Word,” playing over and over in my head. Here are the lyrics courtesy of LyricFind and Capitol Christian Music Group.

I Need A Word

The noise of my day
The depression that steals my voice
The confusion that arrests my life
So I can’t even make a choice

Life seems so loud
I’ve been too proud
So Lord, what do I do?
I just need a word from You

Oh, I need a word
Tell me which way to turn
I need a word
Tell me which way I should go
I need a word
To tell me just what to do
Please send a word
God, I need to hear from You
Drown out the noise
Let me hear Your voice
I need a word from You

Ooh, oh, I just got bad news
Life just darkened my day
My family is in need
And I just cant seem to make a way, oh

Life seems so loud
I’ve been too proud
But I’m asking you now
Lord, send a word from You

I need a word
Tell me which way to turn
I need a word
Tell me which was I should go
I need a word
Tell me what should I do, Lord
I need a word
I need a word from You
Drown out the noise
Let me hear Your voice
Oh Lord, I know need a word from You

I hear You Lord, I hear You say

Stand still and know that You are God
Stand still and believe You’ll work it out
Stand still and see my victory walk right in
‘Cause with You, I will win

I need a word
Greater is He that’s in me than He that’s in the world
I need Your word
No weapon formed against me shall be able to prosper
Drown out the noise
Let me hear Your voice
I need a word
From You

It’s growing season. You are being pruned. Lean into God.

Praying you have a wonderfully, blessed week. Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Was looking through Facebook memories and old journals to find inspiration for today’s blog. I could not find a journal entry from this date 20+ years ago, so I decided to include my Facebook post from last year, June 4, 2022.

“Just me being me.🤷🏽‍♀️😁 Y’all, life is good and God is sooo amazing. I’m so grateful for His mercy and grace. And the way He loves me – INDESCRIBABLE!! Whew! Getting emotional just thinking about it.☺️ Twenty days until #Year49, and I’m going to enjoy every minute because I KNOW #ImBlessed! 🙏🏽♥️”

As I mentioned, I could not find an entry written on this date over 20 years ago. However, I did find several entries between 1991-2002 written either the day before or after June 4. Y’all, I weep for that young lady. She was so lost, hurt and broken. For years, even decades, she accepted any and everything that was thrown her way because she felt unworthy and unlovable. When I tell you her self esteem was shot. I can see now that she was punishing herself for that one decision she wish she had not made. That one decision caused her to enter a downward spiral that led to self hatred and mental abuse. She consistently punished herself by allowing others to misuse and abuse her. She felt she deserved the pain because she had not lived up to the dreams and goals she had set for herself. Y’all, she did not know she could recover. Sadly, it would be decades before she realized that one mistake did not define her and that all of her dreams and aspirations were still in tact.

Now, here I am 20 days before Year 50. As I mentioned last year, I am so grateful for God’s love, mercy and grace. Y’all, it is truly INDESCRIBABLE! Today, I can happily say that my life is drastically different than it was 30 years ago. That young lady is finally a woman who understands that that one decision was just part of her (my) story. Smiling

Year 50 is loading. Excited to see where this next journey takes me.

No more pain. I got you!♥️

Shaun

Life

It WILL Happen

Shaun Bradford

Hello World! Sitting here in tears… happy tears. No, nothing miraculous has happened. Just visited my Facebook memories (had been logged off for a few days and about to log back off–loving this peace) and the Hello Sunday I had written last year was the very first post. I am sharing the link to the entire blog, below. Here is a snippet of what I wrote.

Hello Sunday by moi, written on May 29, 2022:

“Yesterday I shared the quote, ‘It WILL happen.’ This morning I checked my Facebook memories and last year, on this very date (May 29, 2021), I posted the exact same thing. Not in blog or quote, but as a response to someone else’s dream/vision. Y’all, at this moment, I’m so overwhelmed with emotions. I can finally see my dreams coming to fruition. My life is nothing like I imagined at all – it’s better!”

Fast forward to the present and nothing has changed outwardly. I’m still living in the same house, driving the same car, eating the same food–nothing visibly noticeable. However, internally… y’all, internally my life is completely different. I wish I could explain the joy and peace I feel within. When I tell you it’s greater than anything I have ever imagined. Y’all, I feel like a completely different person. Listen, if you only knew…

Y’all, God is absolutely amazing. I am truly blessed. My It WILL Happen has actually become, It IS Happening.

Yes, I’m blessed.

Grateful♥️

Shaun