Tag: healing

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

Hello! Hello! Hello!! It’s almost 3:00 a.m. here in Hattiesburg. Since I am wide awake, I will go ahead and post today’s blog. This one is from another Facebook memory dated August 11, 2018. I read it and just had to share.

How many of us, no matter how far we have progressed in our mental and spiritual journey, are still struggling to heal from something no one knows about. That thing that knocks us to our knees from time to time. I refuse to believe I am the only one who experiences this.

A few weeks ago, my son asked if I ever had moments where I thought about something I did and instantly became embarrassed; something I was too embarrassed to share with someone else. I told him yes. That it happened more often than I liked. I went on to explain that most of the time whatever happened was so small, yet I couldn’t seem to get over it. That’s when I shared one of my moments with him, something I had never shared with anyone else. Honestly, I felt completely comfortable sharing it with him. I guess it’s because he is the only one who does not make me feel crazy or weird when I tell him things. Yes, he’s my gift. Grateful God placed him in my life.

Anyhoo… back to the Facebook memory. Here is what I shared three years ago.

August 11, 2018

I believe all of us can relate to this one. No matter how strong we are, or how much we’ve overcome, there’s always that one little thing we can’t seem to shake. Sending prayers and love!🙏🏽💕 #PrayAndWorship #GotsGotYou #YoureCovered

Thanks for reading. Wishing you a fantastic Wednesday!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Just woke up from a disturbing dream. I was working at my old job and dealing with some of the same people and issues that eventually led to my resignation. While laying here thinking, l began hearing the song, How I Got Over. The song says:

How I got over
How I got over
My soul looks back and wonder how I got over

Whew! Y’all, God is good. I am so grateful that stage of my journey is over. As I think about the last thirty years of adulthood, I can’t help but smile. I made it through some difficult times. And y’all, I’m still here! Again, God is so good!

My soul looks back and wonder how I got over.

Thanks for reading. Wishing you a fabulous week!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

“Life is beautiful,” is a quote I share on May 23, 2014.

Just to be here and experience God’s greatness is such a wonderful blessing. As I look back over my life, I have had my share of traumatic experiences. Some that made me hate myself so much that I wished I was dead. So many times I felt hopeless and believed I did not deserve better. But grace! I can hear is BeBe and CeCe Winans singing “Oh, oh, oh, grace. Where would I be without grace?”

Listen, I’m so grateful God had other plans! Yes, He didn’t allow those moments to consume me. Honestly, there’s nothing like God’s love, mercy and grace. I’m so grateful He allowed me to see there was so much to live for. So grateful the wonderful experiences have outweighed the horrible. He’s just so good.

So yes, life is beautiful.

Forever Grateful~

Shaun

Life

Wednesday

Shaun Bradford
Positive vibes only!

So today I decided to share another Facebook memory. I’m not sure what was going on at the time but it seems as if I was fed up with negativity. I’ll just say this, once I started distancing myself from negative people and situations, my life became so much more peaceful. Today, when negativity rears its ugly head, positivity rushes in like a superhero and Knocks It Out! No lie! I’m smiling as I write because I couldn’t say this five years ago, which is when I wrote this post. Listen, when I tell you God has put in some work over the years, believe me. I’m sooo loving my new life!

May 19, 2016

Just thinking about life.

Trying to get people to see things differently is very difficult. If a person had a negative experience with a person, place or thing, it’s almost impossible to get them to see anything positive about any of those things. So do you continue to encourage them to be positive or just leave it alone? Negative people (myself included) and situations are exhausting! Whenever I feel myself becoming negative I try to remove myself from whatever is causing the negativity. Those vibes are contagious!

So to answer my question- Do you continue to encourage people to be positive or leave the situation alone?. Well, I’m learning to let people be. Whatever that person feels is on them. If they enjoy negativity, they enjoy it. I’ve learned to accept who they are, which has made my life so much easier. My opinions are mine and theirs are theirs. Life is too short to be stressed over things and situations only God can change. But ALWAYS keep praying for them! Be blessed~

Listen, keep those negative vibes away from you. As I said, they’re contagious! I pray you have more positive experiences than negative ones. Whenever you feel yourself becoming negative, please find a way to distance yourself from whatever is causing the negativity. You deserve a positive life.

Have a blessed day!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
My Joy

Today, I decided to reblog last year’s blog, My Joy. The experience I shared last year (May 16, 2020) is how I have felt every day over the past month or so. No lie– EVERY DAY! Y’all, I never knew I could be so happy all day every day. Lately, whenever something negative tries to enter my space, God blocks it with something positive. Just a thought– Maybe God has always provided positive options but I chose to focus on the negative OR not listen and follow His guidance. Hmm… something to think about from now forward.

Listen, I cannot emphasize this enough, when you allow God to lead and love on you your reward is that unspeakable, indescribable joy. Y’all, it’s how I’m living! Forever Grateful ~ Shaun

My Joy

I could not end this week without testifying about all of my wonderful experiences this week. Smiling as I reminisce. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a …

My Joy
Life

Lesson Learned

Shaun Bradford
Quote by Tony Gaskins, 2019

Found this quote in today’s Facebook memories from 2019. In the memory, I had written a long caption about how I had been reading journal entries from the 90s and discovered I hadn’t changed much. I noted that I had grown spiritually and professionally, and was also making better decisions. However, my personality, heart, and spirit hadn’t really changed. I questioned why I had not grown stronger in those areas, meaning, why hadn’t I changed? You see, those were the areas that made me feel inadequate around others. That made me feel vulnerable in certain situations. That made me love harder than I should have. You would think 30 years would’ve made a difference, but it hadn’t.

That was two years ago. Here I am today, same personality, heart, and spirit. At first I asked myself why these characteristics hadn’t changed. You see, over the years I have tried to change them. Tried not to be so sentimental or emotional. Tried not to wear my heart on my sleeve. Tried to fit in by being less silly and more poised. Yeah.. I tried to be everything I wasn’t, everything I’m not. Then it hit me, those aren’t weaknesses. Those are my strengths. They don’t need to be changed. They need to be embraced. The only reason I continue to feel vulnerable while embracing them is because I’m trying to get others to embrace them as well. I guess you can say I’m having an “AHA” moment. Maybe that’s the lesson Tony Gaskins was referring to. I will never be able to move to the next level as long as continue to remain in the presence of those who do not fully accept Shaun. Umm… I believe it’s time to re-evaluate my circle. What’s that old saying– “If it don’t fit, don’t force it.” I will no longer try to force myself to fit where I’m not embraced. Period!

Thanks for reading!

Shaun

Life

Happy New Year’s Eve – 2017

Shaun Bradford

If you have already read the blog I posted earlier, then you’ll know I had decided not to reblog last year’s blog. It was too depressing. Then, while scrolling through my Facebook memories, I came across this gem. It feels so good to be back!! Enjoy!

Happy New Year’s Eve! As always, I start one blog with the intention of posting it. Then on the day I decide to post it, I come up with something …

Happy New Year’s Eve – 2017
Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
Final Sunday of 2020

Well y’all, we have finally made it to the final Sunday in 2020. Woohoo!! I’m not going to lie, it is a little bittersweet. Seems like I was just getting used to so many unexpectedly, weird things happening– good and bad. Now we are moving on.

So we say we are ready for 2021, but are we? Just to be sure we are somewhat prepared, I am going to end this Hello Sunday with a prayer for 2021:

Lord, please prepare us for whatever lies ahead– good or bad. Open our hearts and minds so that we are receptive of every blessing you have in store for us; and give us the strength to reject any- and everything that might cause us harm. Lord, shower us with your unconditional love, mercy and grace. Drench us with so much love and peace that we forget about the pains and heartaches of 2020. Lord, please give us the boldness to embrace our worth and walk in our purpose. Let others experience your love through us. Last, but not least, please heal our nation. We need You. Amen

I love y’all! Looking forward to celebrating a prosperous 2021 together.

Shaun

Life

Enjoying the Ride

Shaun Bradford

Since I’m awake I might as well write. December 2020 is finally here. Y’all, we made to the end of the year!

A year ago I shared the attached quote on Facebook. The last sentence says, “And even if you lose, you just can’t lose.” Hmm…

Yesterday I was in a mood. A friend and I were texting about how we remember things versus how they actually happened. I told her that my journal entries always set me straight. I recall things one way, then go back and read journal entries from that period. Almost half of the time my recollections are not quite the way I remembered. Sometimes I was hurt far worse than I remembered, or loved much harder than I remembered. After texting her a few examples of what I thought happened versus what really happened, she said, “Don’t you wish you could go back with the knowledge you have now.” Well, that one statement put me in a mood. For hours all I could think about was why didn’t I do this or that. Why did things not happen for me? Y’all, I wasted hours thinking about things that happened over the last 20+ years. Talk about crazy! Unfortunately, I fell asleep feeling a little down. However, I woke up to several encouraging messages to include this memory.

Even though I looked back and thought about how I could have done things differently, it wasn’t meant to be. What was meant to be, is. I wanted more. My vision was higher and still is. I refused to settle. So yes, I suffered heartbreaks and what seemed like failures, but my story is not over. I only have one life and I refuse to settle for less than God’s absolute best. So am I losing? Nah.. I’m winning!

God is good. Enjoying the ride!

Shaun