Tag: Sunday

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

First, I want to thank everyone who said a prayer for me yesterday. It wasn’t easy for me to share how I was feeling. I had actually shared a more detailed post hours earlier, then unpublished it soon afterwards. As I said in my previous post, I hate feeling vulnerable, and openly sharing that much of my life made me feel so. So, thank you for allowing me a space to share because I really needed it. At the time that I posted it, I was on my way from the airport to the hotel and was trying not to start bawling during the ride. However, trying to hold it in was short lived. As soon as I got to the front desk to check in, the tears started pouring out, and I was boohooing all over the place. Y’all, I was so embarrassed, but couldn’t stop. Everyone was hugging me. I mean everyone. Even people waiting in the lobby. I was a mess…

After I got to my room, I FaceTimed my daughter and the first words out of her mouth were, “You look terrible!” And I did! That was my first time seeing myself. Y’all, I had been crying the whole trip—on my to the airport, on the plane, during my layover. The tears just kept coming. The other part of her response was laughter (we tend to do this at the weirdest times). Baby she laughed! And I couldn’t help but laugh too because I looked horrible! She kept apologizing, but said she’d never seen me look so bad in my life. Like I was in some movie or something. Then we laughed even more. I had planned on going to the opening ceremony last night, but was advised by my daughter to sit it out. She was like you already look bad, the last thing you want to do is be crying all over the place. So, I took her advice—even though I really wanted to hear our opening speaker. Then, I went and got something to eat, took a shower, and got in bed.

Y’all, I love my hearts. My son said to let him know if I needed anything. As if he could do much from hundreds of miles away. But his heart was in the right place. When I tell you I am truly blessed.

I don’t know how today will go. I feel much better, now. However, the grief that I experienced yesterday was so unexpected. So, I can only pray that today will be a more pleasant day. Something did come to mind—which could’ve been a trigger—I was attending a conference when my brother died. I was at a state conference in the same city as his hospital. Had seen him the night before. He just kept saying he was tired. So tired. He had been in ICU over a week and they’d tried everything. By the way, he had MRSA, one of the worst staph infections you can get, and it had spread to his heart. We never figured out how he got it. The doctors wanted to try one more surgery to see if it would help or prolong his life. I remember calling my stepmom to tell her I was about to leave the conference to head back to the hospital and she told me not to rush because he was gone. That they were waiting on everyone to make it to the hospital to say our final goodbyes. So maybe I was subconsciously triggered by the conference and it being his birthday. When I tell you life be lifeing for real!

Well, I’m going to end here. Going to turn over and get a few more hours of sleep before I start my day. Can’t wait to mingle, network and enjoy the free food samples. Outside of the National Restaurant Association Show (it’s huge!), our conference has some of the best food vendors. Met one yesterday while waiting for my food. Can’t wait to stop by their booth.☺️

As always, thank you so much for reading. Hopefully what I’ve written makes sense, if not it’s okay. I just needed to write. Now, I need to go back to sleep. However, before I do, I’ll end with this Facebook memory, which is very timely. Can’t make this stuff up!

Facebook Memory: October 6, 2023

You better live! Life isn’t slowing down or waiting for you to catch up. Stop putting everyone else first like they’re more important than you. Listen… and hear me good… No one is more important or more valuable than you are. No one! You’re not being selfish, self-centered or inconsiderate. Nah… You’re just recognizing your worth. Now it’s time you start living in it. Love you!♥️

Message received.

Have a blessed Sunday!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday! I pray your weekend is going well. Mine has been pretty great so far. I can’t complain.☺️

Today’s Hello Sunday is a reminder that the person people see you as today has been years in the making, even decades. Meaning, you did not become who you are overnight. It’s also a reminder to be gentle, kind, and patient with yourself as God continues—because the process is never ending—to shape and mold you into the person you know you’re meant to be. Remember, who you are today is only a glimpse of who you’re becoming. Smile♥️

Love you,

Shaun

“It takes time, patience and grace to become the person you know you are meant to be. So, be kind to yourself while God is working.” –Facebook Memory, 2021

hope

Put God First

Shaun Bradford

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received was to put God first. Over the years, I have tried to do things my way and on my own, and they never quite worked out right. Then, when I started putting God first—truly putting Him first and trusting Him with the outcome—everything started working out, and even better than I imagined. So, putting God first was the best advice I ever received.♥️

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! Here’s what I shared on September 22, 2019, five years ago.

When I tell you this one post has had me crying for a few minutes now. So many emotions about this memory, about this particular “purse note.” It was the very first of my notes. When I wrote it ten years ago, I was told to keep it near and to reference it often. That I would need it. I had no idea what that meant, but I was obedient.

Over the years, I began to read it less and less often. At one point I was reading it almost daily. At times, I questioned some of the things I had written inside (nothing juicy, just things only I would eventually understand). This year, I’ve only read it twice. The crazy part is, it has actually taken ten years for me to fully grasp what I wrote. Hence, the reason I’m crying.

As I wrote a few blogs ago (had no idea it would tie into this one), be obedient. God really does know the outcome. He sees and knows all. Yes, I’m pretty emotional behind this one. Y’all, I just can’t believe I have kept this note in my purse for 10 years!! I am blown away by my compliance, my belief, my obedience (over the years), my willingness to follow God’s word and allow Him to lead (took a minute…well, almost 10 years to get here). Talk about mind blowing!

Whew! I’m going to end here and leave you with this. You never know what you can do until you do it. Allow God to lead. You may not understand the assignment, and half of the time you may even think you’re crazy. Just do what He asks. As I wrote on the back of the note, “God blessings are better than life.” I used to cringe every time I read it without the apostrophe (God’s). However, today, I see it differently. God blessings—meaning the size of the blessings—are better than life.

That’s all I have for you now. I pray you have a wonderfully, blessed Sunday.♥️

Love you,

Shaun