Tag: happiness

Life

Friendships

Shaun Bradford

In a few hours I will be picking up my bestie of 48 years from the airport. This will be our first time seeing each other in person this year. I’m so excited! She will only be here for a day, but any time with her is always wonderful. I can’t wait to see her! God knew I needed this.

Friendships…

Lately, my circle of friends has become smaller. I guess I should now refer to it as tiny. Yeah, 2023 has been some year. Most of the ones I have now I have had for decades. Thankfully they are not fair-weather friends. They can actually stand the rain. Hmm…Now I have to listen to Johnny Gill’s “Fairweather Friend,” or New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain” or any JG or NE/BBD (because now I’m hearing “When Will I See You Smile Again”) song for that matter. Laughing. Baby, I can go on and on with the songs. I am NE4Life!!

Anyhoo…As always, my Facebook memories are so timely. Although I shared this song a week or so ago in another post, I also shared it two years ago.

Facebook Memory: December 28, 2021

“Keep smiling. Keep shining. Knowing you can always count on me, for sure. That’s what friends are for.” Dionne Warwick

“In good times and bad times I’ll be on your side forevermore. That’s what friends are for.”

Today’s going to be a great day! I pray you have a strong circle of friends or at least one true friend. Friendships are so important. Wishing you a wonderful day! Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Love Is…

Shaun Bradford

Facebook Memory: December 27, 2021

Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4

Took me a while to figure this out and actually name the source of my pain. So glad I did.

When I reshared the post, I added–

Love does not hurt.
Embrace it. Bask in it.
Give love and be loved.

Also on December 27th (2014), I reshared God’s Fruit (Facebook page) post–

Let’s make today about love. I would say everyday, but one day at a time is a good start.

Yes, let’s be intentional about spreading love.

I will start…

I love you, unconditionally!♥️

Shaun

Updated to add…

As someone once said, unconditional love is not unconditional tolerance. Please know the difference. You can love someone unconditionally from afar. You do not have to tolerate the disrespect, hate, and/or harm. Please don’t! Also, don’t let your heart grow cold. A cold heart stops you from receiving and giving unconditional love.

Life

Grateful

Shaun Bradford
Gratitude is key.

Hezekiah Walker’s song, “Grateful,” says–

I am grateful for the things that you have done
Yes, I’m grateful for the victories we’ve won
I could go on and on and on about your works
Because I’m grateful, grateful, so grateful just to praise you Lord
Flowing from my heart are the issues of my heart, it’s gratefulness

Flowing from my heart is gratefulness. There is so much I have to be grateful for including still being here. Every day on earth is an opportunity to witness God’s glory. So often we miss it because we are looking for it in something grand. Today, I encourage you to be intentional about seeing God’s glory, even in the simplest of things.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Life

My Relationship With God

Shaun Bradford

Have you ever written an entire book (exaggerating) only to not publish it? Well, I just did. I know I wrote a good chapter describing my relationship with God starting with when I was an adult-child (yes, adult-child—smoking, shoplifting, etc. …heavy on the etc.) getting saved at eight years old; to my life as a sanctified teenager who went to church almost every day; to being a young adult who only called on God when needed; to completely ignoring Him in my 30s; to building the bond I currently have with Him now. Hmmm… I guess I could have written it like this the first time. Oh well…

As you can see, my relationship with God started decades ago. Thankfully, what began in fear (of going to hell) is now a relationship of reverence and awe. Y’all, up until this past decade, I did not know a relationship like this was even possible. As Kierra Sheard’s song, Indescribable, goes–

Indescribable, uncontainable
You place the stars in the sky and you know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Although we are here to fulfill a specific purpose in the world, we are also here to glorify God; to worship and to praise Him. Y’all, He loves our praises.

God, You are so amazing!

Keep the praises going.♥️

Shaun