My life. My world. Love, hope, peace, joy & happiness.
It’s so easy to become distracted by the need to complete tasks and mark things off our checklists that we forget our purpose– our Why. Today, I encourage you to remember your purpose. Remember why you initially wanted to make a difference.♥️ ~Shaun
First thing yesterday morning, I downloaded a copy of Mrs. Michelle Obama’s newest book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. I had been looking for a good book to read and when I heard hers was about to be released, I waited for it. I waited for it because I knew it would be good. I knew it would be one that I couldn’t put down, just like her last book, Becoming.
Sooo… many, many years ago, I made a list of people I wanted to meet. Well, she was number four on my list; and believe it or not, her husband was number ten. Crazy, huh? On my list, I added why I wanted to meet them and questions I would ask. Well, at that time, my question for Mrs. Obama was – How do you keep smiling?
Y’all, back then I was so intrigued by the way she carried herself when most people would have buckled. Her poise, her confidence, her strength and her smile were all so fascinating. As you can see, I’m definitely a fan. Y’all, it was like the more they hated her and her husband the more she smiled, showed kindness, love and compassion. It was like their hate was her fuel.
Side Note: Over my lifetime, I have asked God for things, or wanted things, and they have happened. Sadly, many of those times I didn’t realize He had answered my prayers until years later. It’s because His answers don’t always come in the form we are searching for. Life…
In 2019, I had the opportunity to see Mrs. Obama at Essence Festival in New Orleans. I remember my friends and I walking towards the Superdome and seeing police escorts and black SUVs zooming pass. We stopped and yelled, “That’s her!” We screamed her name not even knowing if it was her inside one of the vehicles. We still laugh about it to this day because we swear it was her and that she saw us and waved. Y’all, that could’ve been ANYBODY! Laughing. But in our hearts it was her. Later that evening, we got to hear her talk about everything I wanted know and more. The book only covered so much and she filled in the rest. For me, God had answered my prayers. It didn’t take me years to realize what had happened. I knew at that exact moment that I was sitting in my answer.
Now, I’m reading her latest book and so far she’s dropping gems that I need for where I am now, in life. Yeah.. so many tools – as she calls them – that I can use to get me through this next phase of my journey. Smiling.
Listen, if you’re looking for a good book to read, that’s not boring, pick up Mrs. Obama’s latest book The Light We Carry.
Be Blessed!♥️
Shaun
James 2:14,17 NKJV
(14) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Today, I would like to share a Facebook memory about faith. A moment where I spoke, believed and acted (worked) on my belief.
Facebook Memory: November 6, 2020 – My response to a video Tabitha Brown had shared.
Good Morning! Here’s today’s social media find! Listen, how many of y’all can relate to Tabitha’s story? I know I can!! Never stop believing!
Short story– Before I moved into my present home in 2018, my kids were even speaking things as though they were so (yes, having faith is contagious). In December of 2017, out of the blue my daughter said, “This time next year we will be in a new place.” Y’all, we, including my son, claimed it and started celebrating like we were already in another place. By August 2018, I hadn’t even found a place. However, I told my son that by his 15th birthday, which was at the end of September, we would be in a new place. Y’all, we moved into this house the day before his birthday. That’s faith! Listen, you can’t tell me what God can’t do! If it’s in His will, He’ll move mountains so that you can have it! Whew!! Tabitha got me fired up this morning. Lol! Have a blessed weekend.
Two years later, I purchased the house. Which was another act of faith.
Yesterday, Tyler Perry celebrated 30 years in show business. He posted pictures of four different studios – from his first to present – along with the caption: “Remember… wherever you start doesn’t have to be where you end… Never despise small beginnings. It takes a while to build a dream.”
No lie, not even an hour later while looking for something, I came across my first passport. Y’all, that stopped me in my tracks. I hadn’t seen that passport in ages. Couldn’t even find it when I applied for my current one. Couldn’t even remember if I had ever had one. That’s how long it had been. Of course I became emotional because y’all know I’m emotional. (Smile) For me, Tyler’s post and me finding the passport was very significant.
You see, I got my first passport when I was 17 years old. I had just graduated from high school and had planned to spend my summer in the Dominican Republic to become fluent in Spanish (only stayed a few weeks because I couldn’t deal with all of the lizards – shaking my head). My next trip was supposed to be to France to become fluent in French (unfortunately, that never happened). My ultimate goal was to be a translator or interpreter at the United Nations, specifically the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Yes, those were my goals. Those were my dreams. Then, life happened and somehow that confident dreamer/goal setter disappeared. So finding that passport after Tyler’s post was pretty meaningful. While he was celebrating 30 years of achievements towards his dreams, I could only sit and look at where my dreams used to be. The place where I believed any- and everything was possible.
Now, don’t get me wrong, over the past 30 years (a little over 31, to be exact), I have tried to rekindle that same enthusiasm, optimism and confidence. I have also had multiple opportunities to achieve my goals and dreams. Sadly, every time I came close to acting on those opportunities I allowed fear and the feeling of unworthiness to stop me. Like.. Every. Single. Time. I believe they call it, self-sabotage. (Tears)
Honestly – being super transparent at the moment – I was afraid of the unknown and afraid of success – not failure. Yes.. success! In my mind, success was and still is a bit intimidating because you always have to maintain a certain level of success. Like, there’s no room for mistakes or failure.
I also mentioned unworthiness. I did not feel like someone who deserved certain things or to be in certain spaces. Although others believed it and could see it, I couldn’t. Now.. before life happened.. you couldn’t tell me I didn’t deserve the world or could not have or achieve anything I desired. HA! Then, the woes of life came. Seemed like every blow that hit me took away my confidence and feeling of worthiness. Opportunities would come (some actually found me), but I would look at myself, and my situation, and either turn the opportunity down or find an excuse to back out of it. Yep… Life.. My life.
For the past few years, I have been making social media posts about my desire to walk the halls of the Palais des Nations and work with people from different nations. Been manifesting it for a while. Well, within this same time, I have been somewhat preparing for it. Yes.. somewhat preparing. I’m not going to lie, the reason I have not put my all into it is due to some of the same reasons – fear of success and fear of not maintaining the success. With that said, I can happily and humbly say that my issue with feeling unworthy is a thing of the past. Listen, that feeling of unworthiness blocked all kinds of blessings. But not anymore. I now know that I’m God’s child and worthy to be in places and spaces fit for kings and leaders. Now, it’s time to work on the other.
Okay, to circle back to faith. I have faith that one day I will be at the UN. As I did with the house, I set a time frame. That’s what you do with goals right. (Laughing) Then, I worked towards finding a place. I didn’t just sit and wait for the house to find me. I actually had to start looking for a place.
Well, my journey to the UN isn’t going to just happen without me being intentional about getting there. I also have to start accepting opportunities – the right opportunities. Opportunities that could be somewhat uncomfortable or challenging, but necessary to help me achieve my goals.
Today, I’m going to set a time frame, tell my two believers, and then we’re going to believe for it just as we did for the house and everything else that has manifested. Y’all, they really are my faith partners. And they truly believe in me, which makes me feel amazing! Smiling
This is all I have for today. Hope you have a wonderful day and blessed week!
Shaun
Things will happen in life that will make you question whether pursuing your dreams, goals and purpose is even worth it. Guess what? It is! As long as you’re breathing, keep striving for the desires of your heart. DON’T GIVE UP!
Today, a few Facebook memories popped up that reminded me of my dreams, goals and purpose. I can’t give up. Yes, I’m tired. Like.. really tired. But I can’t give up. I have to see these things through.
One of the memories was of General Colin Powell’s passing. Oh how I wanted to meet him. I just knew I would. Same with Kofi Annan. I keep thinking that maybe if I was intentional about it, it could’ve happened. Life. Remembering Colin Powell🕊♥️ ~ Shaun
How do you define love? Is it patience, kindness and understanding?
How do you show it? How do you receive it?
Unfortunately, love isn’t black and white or one size fits all. How one person shows or receives love can be very different from the next.♥️
A few months ago I took the 5 Love Languages quiz– https://5lovelanguages.com. Took it twice and a similar quiz, and the results were the same. My primary love language is Quality Time followed by Words of Affirmation. If you haven’t taken the quiz, you really should. It’s pretty interesting.
Today would have been my brother’s 49th birthday. Y’all, I just knew we would grow old together. Happy heavenly birthday, Rell.♥️ October 5, 1973 – October 19, 2019
Here’s what I shared on that day three years ago (October 5, 2019) –
Facebook Memory: October 5, 2019
Second message this week about everything happens for a reason. So I must make it today’s social media find. Rest assured God’s got you. He already has everything worked out. Just trust Him. Believe me, I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s something we must learn to do. Y’all have a blessed day.🙏🏽♥️
This was in response to a post made by TV ONE – “Laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself everything happens for a reason.”
That week, my emotions were all over the place. My anxiety level was like a ten. You know how you can feel something about to happen but can’t pinpoint what? I remember being so anxious that entire day, and the days that followed, were even worse. Didn’t know I would actually laugh at the confusion. Not really. Smile through the tear. Boy did I do a lot of crying, but of course I kept smiling. One thing that I couldn’t seem to do was focus on the “everything happens for a reason” part. HA! One thing I forgot to do was take my own advice and trust that God knew what He was doing. Honestly, I’m still confused about that part. Only God knows the lessons and reasons behind everything that happened.
Yeah.. October 2019 was a month I truly wanted to forget. Hands down, it was one of the worst months of my life. Y’all, I honestly didn’t think I could see another October and not feel some kind of way. I’m so thankful time takes away the sting. That God loves us enough to make sure we heal from pain.
October 5, 2019
Shaun
Haven’t rambled in a while…
Last night was the first time in a while that I watched The Potter’s House Wednesday Night Bible Study, live. Usually, I catch it a day or so later. Last night’s message was Torn Between the Two. Bishop T. D. Jakes referenced putting new wine in old wineskins. (Mark 2:22) Basically, holding on to something old, while God is trying to do something new; attempting to mix the two (new with old) for fear of losing the old. In other words, losing what had already been established.
Last night, I knew the message was for me; however, I didn’t fully accept it. Didn’t want to accept it. Shoot.. haven’t wanted to accept it. Believe me, this message isn’t new. God’s been telling me this for some time now. I’m not going to lie, part of me still wanted to hold on to that old skin. I was like, I hear you God, but that’s a lot to just let go. Ha! Years of sweat equity (smiling).
However, this morning when I woke up, my first thought was, “I cannot put new wine in old skins. New skins for new wine.” This morning I got the message. What was had taken me as far as it could. Its capacity to expand had reached its limit. Not throwing it away. As Bishop mentioned last night, that old skin was once new. If you know me, you already know I never throw away memorabilia. I hold on to it forever. It’s part of my heart.
With that said, I can no longer grieve what was and must build on what God is doing. Which is something new. Something that’s way more powerful than before. And if I continue to hold on to the old, I’ll never know where this new thing will take me.
Smiling
God, I’m ready to build on the new. New wine. New skins. I’m trusting You to lead me and take me to heights unimaginable. Let’s go!!!♥️
LaShaundrea
Perseverance– steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Persevere.♥️
Celebrating 500 consecutive days of blogging. And just think, at one point I didn’t believe I could make it past 50. God is so good. Doing what I’m meant to do. Doing what I love! AND I’m still drawing. Again, God is so good. Blessed
Question –
Where would you be without God’s grace?♥️ ~ Shaun
Below is a Facebook memory from three years ago. Today, I needed this reminder. Everything I do is to support God’s purpose. It’s not about me.
Facebook Memory September 14, 2019:
Have you ever asked God why He chose you? I have. Sometimes I still do. Y’all, we were chosen for a reason. He chose us, with all of our imperfections, to fulfill whatever purpose He has. He’s so awesome!
I don’t know what lies ahead, but I do know I was chosen for a reason. For this, I’m forever grateful.
To this day, I still don’t know what lies ahead. So much has happened since I made that post. I didn’t know I would suffer one of the biggest heartbreaks of a lifetime. I didn’t know that I would be a coauthor in a book. I didn’t know that I would finally take the leap and leave my job– without a backup plan. I didn’t know that I would be one of the primary caregivers for all three of my parents. I didn’t know that by resting in God, and truly allowing Him to lead, that I would experience such peace. Y’all, I actually feel like a Queen at times. Smiling. I haven’t had to want for anything. God is sooo good.
Today, I’m still perplexed about why God chose me. Why He entrusted me with so many responsibilities, while treating me like royalty. I pray that I’m making Him proud. I pray that I’m doing a good job fulfilling His purpose.
Shaun
It’s Shaun’s World 
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