Tag: growth

hope

Stronger And Braver?

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

Three years ago, I wrote that the complexities and experiences of life and love made us stronger and braver and were worth experiencing.

Question—

Have the complexities and experiences of life and love, particularly love, made you stronger and braver?

My answer…

“Yes” on the strength part. The complexities and experiences of life and love have made me stronger. However, “No” on the bravery part. Well, only in the case of love. My experiences with love and its shenanigans have always made me retreat. I have yet to become brave in this area; however, I am working on it. One day I’ll be a love warrior-Queen! Smile

Anyhoo… On a softer, less complex note.

Last year, I celebrated the tenth anniversary of my dreams being revived. I wrote about how an invitation to a culinary experience had changed my life ten years earlier (May 2014). I said it had awakened childhood dreams I had buried in my early 20s. Well, at 51, those dreams are still alive, and this time, despite the “complexities” of life—because life is going to keep lifeing—I plan to keep them alive. Just call me the warrior-Queen and protector of my dreams!

That’s all I have for you now. I do want to know your thoughts on the question above. Are you stronger and/or braver because of your experiences?

I pray you have a fabulous day. You deserve it!♥️

I love you much,

Shaun

hope

The Best View

Shaun Bradford
Image saved on May 6, 2020. Photo credit: Unknown

“The best view comes after the hardest climb.”

If you haven’t seen it yet, keep climbing! It’s coming.♥️

Love you much,

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 92

Shaun Bradford

Last year I wrote—

“Heal so you can grow. If you do not heal, you will never grow to reach your fullest potential.”

Now, you’ll grow, and grow well in certain areas of your life, but you’ll never reach your fullest, God–ordained potential. At least, that’s what God told me, and I passed the message along to you. Smile.

When I turned 50, I asked God to allow me to live out my next 50+ years differently than my previous, and one of His answers was that I needed to heal. As much as I wanted to reset my life, I still had baggage I never fully unpacked or addressed—shame, guilt, disappointments, heartbreaks, and other hurts. I had to address them first so I could begin healing.

At first, I felt like my world had been turned upside down. Nothing was the same. My mom had just passed the month before. Then, God kept revealing the areas where I needed to make changes. I called it my pruning season because baby, I was being PRUNED! I was being pruned in all the places I needed healing. So, it was necessary.

Now, here I am, almost two years on this side of 50, and I can honestly say my life has changed—for the best. Not only do I feel it, but I’m beginning to see it, too. Although it’s all new, and I’m still working through some things—healing is a journey—I love my new life over 50. I’m determined more than ever to reach my fullest potential before I leave this earth. I want to see every God–given dream from childhood until now manifested. My recent experiences with so many second chances only prove that I’m not too old or too late for them to come true.

God is so very good. I’m blessed.♥️

Shaun

hope

The Best: God’s Best

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

Even though it may be tempting, now is not the time to settle for anything less than God’s best.

Can’t you hear Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers singing “The Best Is Yet To Come”? Well, I surely can. Smile. The song says—

God’s gonna really blow your mind
He’s gonna make it worth your time
For all of the trouble you’ve been through
The blessings doubled just for you

Guess what?
The best
Is yet to come …

You ain’t seen nothin’
You ain’t seen nothin’ yet

Listen, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Hang in there. The best—God’s best for YOU—is worth the wait.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**On another note, this was too cute not to share. It’s an excerpt from my journal entry written on May 2, 2015—

“I took one of those FB quizzes about “what is your gift?” I got music. It said that you can channel a song for any occasion. Lord knows that’s true! Every morning and all through the day, a song is playing in my head. I actually mean- ALL day long!”

Well… it’s true. My life.☺️

hope

God’s Patience

Shaun Bradford

I am so very grateful for God’s patience with me. This journey has been long, tedious, and exhausting. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I have wanted to give up—BUT GOD!

God, thank You for being patient with me.🙏🏽

Shaun♥️

hope

Chosen On Purpose

Shaun Bradford

You were chosen on purpose for God’s purpose. Now trust the process and His plan.

And… trust yourself.

You got this!

Love you!♥️

Shaun

hope

Release And Receive

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

Today is the day to release every negative thing that’s been holding your heart, mind, and spirit captive. You know those things that have been preventing you from fully enjoying your blessings and life. Release them so you can receive and enjoy every blessing God has for you. You will never be able to truly enjoy them until you do.

Release them TODAY!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

Gift Yourself Happiness

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

Gift yourself happiness by choosing to be happy. It’s not always easy; however, it is possible. Plus, you deserve it!

Wishing you a beautifully blessed day.♥️

I love you much,

Shaun

hope

Passion

Shaun Bradford

There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. –Nelson Mandela

Follow your passion…

and stop playing small.

Never settle for less than your worth (you’re worth so much more than you know). You only have ONE life. Live it out fully!♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

hope

Second Chances

Shaun Bradford

The song of the hour—or the day—because I have been singing it for a few hours now is “Second Chance” by Hezekiah Walker. The song says—

Show me
All of my wrongs
Forgive me
And make strong
Oh Save me
Restore my song 
For You’re the God of a second chance

You gave me
A second chance
You forgave me like only You can 
You gave me 
A second chance

Lyrics: LyricFind

Y’all, God is so good. I’m so thankful for second, third, fourth, and even 100 chances. Sometimes, He gives me more chances than I can count to get things right. I can’t express enough how grateful and blessed I am that He loves me.

By the way, nothing major is going on. It’s the little things He’s been working with me on that I don’t always get right. Most of the time, I don’t pay much attention to them until He says, “Look, you’re going to keep going through this cycle until you get this right.” Today, I had one of those moments. Sometimes, it’s not the things we consider significant that keep us from moving ahead. Often, it’s the small things we keep ignoring that are most important. We must remember that those small things are always connected to something greater.

I am forever grateful for God’s love, mercy, kindness, patience (boy, is He patient☺️), and grace. I am blessed.♥️

Shaun