"With God's Grace Our Worst Past
Becomes Our Best Future"
Becomes Our Best Future"
FICTION FRIDAY SPECIAL
A TALK ABOUT BULLYING
By T.E. Bradford
Had a talk with my little man tonight. I know he's been worried about bullying in Middle School, although he admits so far he hasn't really experienced it other than seeing it happen to a friend.
But bullying is real, and I get that it worries him.
So I shared with him a bit about my own history that he didn't know. Like going to church school and having to ride on a bus with high school kids when I was in grade school. Not fun. Plus I got bus sick. A lot. So yeah, pretty awful.
Of course, there was the girl whose father was the principal and thought it'd be fun to circle me with a bunch of her friends and point out how poor I was, and how terrible my clothes and hair and body were. Not a fun memory.
Then there was the girl at school who selected me as her personal torment target. I'd find out later in life she was one of several foster kids whose foster parents abused them. Some of you may recognize that person from my books. And yes, she was the "idea" behind my bully character--right down to the name.
In the books, she becomes a pretty awesome person. In real life, she later tried to apologize for making my young life so hard.
Little Man said to me, "You shouldn't give them another chance. They were mean to you. Why should you forgive them?"
I think my eyes were probably pretty wide when I said, "Are you kidding me??? God told me my own forgiveness would be the same as what I offered others. I'd forgive them a MILLION times over, because I screw up a LOT, and I want to be forgiven a million times over!!! Besides, being happy is so much easier than being miserable your whole life. When you forgive, you get to let go of all that hate and negativity."
Yes, I was bullied pretty badly in my young life. But it didn't make me who I am. Music, and writing, and God made me who I am. I made a CHOICE to be happy.
And to forgive.
ABOUT T. E. BRADFORD
Tracy is a writer, singer-songwriter, cancer survivor, and proud wife and mother. Born and raised in Central New York, she will tell you that her parents gave her the two best tools in her arsenal by reading to her and raising her in a Christian household. In spite of the long CNY winters, she continues to live there with the husband that God created just for her and the son who is her forever best story. In her heart, she feels that her gift of writing is a little piece of magic, and that it is both her privilege and grandest adventure to find new ways to stretch a hand out to touch the wonder of this vast universe God created.
WHAT IS GRACE?
Linda Wood Rondeau
5/2/2023
LORD, WHAT ABOUT HIM?
Linda Wood Rondeau
3/28/2023
MARCH MADNESS AND ASSURED VICTORY
Linda Wood Rondeau
3/14/2023
HEALING BALM
CAROL MCCLAIN
3/3/2023
THE BODY BEAUTIFUL
Linda Wood Rondeau
2/14/2023
TRUE REST
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/19/2023
DISPARITY VS. UNITY/HOW TO WORSHIP CORORATELY WITHIN DIVERSITY
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/3/2023
vanquishing the Christmas Blues
Linda Wood Rondeau
12/27/2022
ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF
Linda Wood Rondeau
12/20/2022
SANTA'S RELUCTANT HELPER
Linda Wood Rondeau
12/13/2022
THE MIRACLE TREE
Linda Wood Rondeau
11/29/2022
A BELL RINGER'S EPIPHANY
Linda Wood Rondeau
11/22/2022
RUN YOUR OWN RACE
Linda Wood Rondeau
11/15/2022
A Talk About Bullying
Linda Wood Rondeau
11/11/2022
TWO YEARS AGO/A TESTIMONY BY ROSEANNA WHITE
Linda Wood Rondeau
10/25/2022
#GODSHOTS
Linda Wood Rondeau
10/4/2022
MY AMAZING FATHER by Andrea Lyn Newell
Linda Wood Rondeau
9/26/2022
A SUMMER'S MIDMORNING WALK
JOHN BARRINGER
8/20/2022
THE ORIGIN OF OUR SELFISHNESS
Linda Wood Rondeau
6/28/2022
SOARING WITH BROKEN WINGS
Linda Wood Rondeau
6/21/2022
HEADLINE MANIA
Linda Wood Rondeau
6/14/2022
TO WORSHIP THE WORK OR THE GIVER OF THE WORK
Linda Wood Rondeau
6/7/2022
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'
Linda Wood Rondeau
5/31/2022
ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT
SHERRIE ZLOMKE
5/17/2022
HE IS OUR PEACE
Linda Wood Rondeau
4/26/2022
WHY CAN'T MORNING COME WITH A START BUTTON?
Linda Wood Rondeau
3/29/2022
OBSTACLES
Linda Wood Rondeau
3/1/2022
WHY SHOULD WE STOP COMPLAINING?
Linda Wood Rondeau
2/22/2022
Yesterday's Sweat
Linda Wood Rondeau
2/15/2022
Be Reconciled
Linda Wood Rondeau
2/1/2022
WHERE ARE YOU GOD?
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/25/2022
IT'S OKAY TO ASK WHY
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/18/2022
SHOULD VS WANT
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/4/2022
WHAT DO YOU TELL YOURSELF?
CYNTHIA WHEATON
12/28/2021
101 QUIPS AND QUOTES BOOK 3
ADA ADELEKE-KELANI
12/21/2021
HIS PERFECT TIMING
J. CAROL NEMETH
12/7/2021
Baring the Soul
MARTIN WILES
11/23/2021
MOVING ADVENTURES
John Barringer
11/2/2021
CHOOSING JOY
CYNTHIA BAUGHAN WHEATON
10/26/2021
LIFE'S UNCERTAINTY
MARTIN WILES
10/19/2021
BLOOMING IN BROKEN PLACES
DEBORAH MALONE
10/12/2021
GRACE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
TINA CRAIGHEAD
10/8/2021
Turn the Right Way
Martin Wiles
9/28/2021
THE NOT SO GOOD GOOD OLD DAYS
Linda Wood Rondeau
9/14/2021
THE GENESIS OF BORROWED LIVES
CAROL McCLAIN
8/31/2021
101 QUIPS AND QUOTES
ADA ADELEKE-KELANI
8/24/2021
WATCH THE TALK
MARTIN WILES
8/10/2021
RISK-TAKING IN JESUS' SHADOW
CHRISTINA SINISI
7/27/2021
CATCHING THE FICKLE FLYING FABLE
TERRI GILLESPIE
7/20/2021
THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES
DONNA SCHLACHTER
7/13/2021
FREE GIFTS FOR GRADS
JANET HOLM MCHENRY
6/27/2021
INTERRUPTIONS
TRACY CRUMP
6/22/2021
THE SUN'S ALWAYS OUT
KARIN BEERY
6/15/2021
GOD'S ECONOMY
CYNTHIA BAUGHAN WHEATON
6/8/2021
OH LORD, PLEASE DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD
KATHY COLLARD MILLER
5/18/2021
GOD'S BEAUTIFUL COINCIDENCES
LINDA W ROOKS
5/11/2021
WHO PUT THE VINEGAR IN THE SALT
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
5/4/2021
THE UNNAMED ZOOKEEPER
JENNIE SENAPATIRATNE
4/6/2021
REIN IN THAT HORSE
J CAROL NEMETH
3/30/2021
REMEMBERED
LYNNE BASHAM TAGAWA
3/23/2021
THE RIGHT PATH
MARTIN WILES
3/16/2021
THE RIGHT ATTIRE FOR A LOVING MARRIAGE
LINDA W ROOKS
3/9/2021
NEHEMIAH: A MAN WHO USED THE PREGNANT PAUSE WELL
BARBARA M BRITTON
3/2/2021
TURNING THE HANDLE
MARTIN WILES
2/16/2021
WALKING IN THE LIGHT
JOAN C. BENSON
2/9/2021
365 WAYS TO LOVE YOUR CHILD
JULIE LAVENDER
2/2/2021
WHOSE BATTLE IS IT?
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
1/26/2021
LANDSCAPING THE HEART AND SOUL
MELISSA HENDERSON
1/19/2021
BORN WITH A PURPOSE
MARTIN WILES
1/12/2021
LUCKY OR BLESSED
LYNNE MODRANSKI
1/5/2021
OBEDIENCE HAS ITS REWARDS
KATHY COLLARD MILLER
12/30/2020
SMALL BOATS AND BIG WAVES
DONNA SCHLACTER
12/23/2020
THE BEST GIFT OF THE SEASON
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
12/16/2020
A PEEK AT THE JEWISH SHABBAT PART 2
SUSAN G MATHIS
12/9/2020
A PEEK AT THE JEWISH SHABBAT PART 1
SUSAN G MATHIS
11/25/2020
EXTRAORDINARY IN THE ORDINARY
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
11/18/2020
WHAT DO I VALUE
CYNTHIA SIMMONS
11/11/2020
JONAH GOT SWALLOWED
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
11/9/2020
HARD FAITH
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
11/4/2020
OF COMPUTERS AND BUMPERS
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
10/28/2020
GOD SAID WAIT (AGAIN)
LOREE PEERY
10/21/2020
HOW WELL HAVE I LOOKED
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
10/14/2020
IS GOD IN THE WHIRLWIND?
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
9/30/2020
ANGER CAN LEAD TO POSITIVE CHANGE
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
9/23/2020
THE CURE FOR THE WEARY SOUL
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
9/21/2020
GOD REIGNS IN THE STILLNESS OF YOUR HEART
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
9/16/2020
THE GIFT
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
9/9/2020
HOW MANY CROSSES
JULIE COSGROVE
9/2/2020
A KERNEL OF THOUGHT
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
8/26/2020
HOW WELL HAVE I LOOKED
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
8/19/2020
TRUSTING GOD
ANE MULLIGAN
8/12/2020
GREEN PASTURES AND STILL WATERS
JOAN C. BENSON
8/5/2020
HIDDEN TREASURE
TERESA J. KREGAR
7/29/2020
REVEAL THE NEW CREATION NOT THE ROOTSTOCK
NORMA GAIL
7/22/2020
I Would Have Made a Very Good Pharisee
KATHY AND LARRY MILLER
7/17/2020
COVID-19 AND THE URGENT NEED FOR PROPER PERSPECTIVE
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
7/15/2020
THE ONE THING I HAVEN'T HOARDED
MEREDITH SAGE KENDALL
7/8/2020
UNDERTOW
JULIE COSGROVE
7/1/2020
TRUST GOD IN THE FOG OF UNCERTAINTY
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
6/24/2020
KNOWN FOR WHAT
MARTIN WILES
6/17/2020
GOSPEL FOCUSED IN THE FACE OF FEAR
JENNIFER SLATTERY
6/10/2020
AN IMPOSSIBLE PRICE
DAVALYNN SPENCER
6/3/2020
WHOLLY LOVED BY GOD
Victoria Mejias
5/27/2020
GOOD NEWS IS COMING
JULIE COSGROVE
5/20/2020
A HOPE AND A FUTURE
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
5/18/2020
CONFESS DON'T BURY
MARTIN WILES
5/13/2020
THE EXTRAORDINARY IS APPARENT IN THE ORDINARY
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
5/6/2020
NOW HE'S ALONE
SUSAN K. STEWART
4/29/2020
HURTING WITH THE BROKEN
SUSAN G. MATHIS
4/22/2020
WHEN LIFE FALLS APART ... DON'T
MARTIN WILES
4/15/2020
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BE THANKFUL
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
4/8/2020
THERE'S LOVE IN THOSE BURNT CASSEROLES
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
4/1/2020
LIVING BY LUCK
MARTIN WILES
3/18/2020
THE TRUTH ABOUT PRAYERS: AN ATTRACTIVE AROMA TO GOD
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
3/11/2020
THE PIT OF SELF-ASSURANCE
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
3/4/2020
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
KATHY AND LARRY MILLER
2/26/2020
A DONUT KIND OF DAY
MARTIN WILES
2/19/2020
Obedience: A Chance To Extend A Blessing
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
2/12/2020
NEW LEAF
JULIE B. COSGROVE
2/5/2020
FORGIVENESS ISN'T EASY
TAMERA LYNN KRAFT
1/29/2020
God's Delight To Reason Together Makes For A Huge Gift
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
1/22/2020
DECISION IN THE CROSSROAD
MEREDITH SAGE KENDALL
1/8/2020
HOPE FOR A NEW YEAR
MARTIN WILES
1/1/2020
COUNTERFEIT DETECTORS
DONNA SCHLACTER (aka LEENN BETTS)
12/18/2019
A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS
MARTIN WILES
12/11/2019
STAYING FOCUSED
MARTIN WILES
11/27/2019
GOD'S DO-OVERS
LINDA SHENTON MATCHETT
11/20/2019
NEVER TIRED
MARTIN WILES
11/13/2019
IS IT FAITH OR TRUST
DAVALYNN SPECER
11/6/2019
THE BANE OF INDECISION
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
10/23/2019
THE VALLEY OF LIFE: FROM PROMISE TO FULFILLMENT
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
10/16/2019
EACH NEW SUNRISE
MARTIN WILES
10/9/2019
REFLECTIONS ON MOTHERHOOD
Marianne Wood
10/2/2019
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PAY A LITTLE ATTENTION
TRINA BESSER MATOUS
9/11/2019
PENTAGON QUILTS:COMFORTERS
CLEO LAMPOS
9/4/2019
IT IS NOT IN ME
ADAM BLUMER
8/28/2019
COCKROACHES AND LIGHT
MARTIN WILES
8/21/2019
SEE? GOOD.
JULIE COSGROVE
8/14/2019
EXPERIENCING GOD'S LOVE IN A BROKEN WORLD
ROY AND DEB HAGGERTY
8/7/2019
PLUG INTO GOD'S POWER
KATHY COLLARD MILLER
7/31/2019
DRIVING ON FLAT TIRES
BARBARA BRITTON
7/22/2019
WAITING FOR THE TEST
MELISSA HENDERSON
7/17/2019
THE LEAST OF THESE
KATHLEEN NEELY
7/10/2019
MY COMFORTER SAW IT COMING
MEREDITH KENDALL
7/3/2019
BLESSINGS IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD
GAIL PALLOTTA
6/19/2019
BOOKENDS
KATHLEEN NEELY
6/12/2019
UNDERGROUND
JULIE COSGROVE
6/5/2019
THE POWER OF LOVE
LISA SIMONDS
5/29/2019
A CONVENIENT COMPASSION
DONNA SCHLACHTER
5/15/2019
TONGUE-TAMING 101
SUSAN G. MATHIAS
5/8/2019
WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVATION
HEATHER SMITH
5/1/2019
R and I
JULIE COSGROVE
4/24/2019
MY SINAI SAGA
JARM DEL BOCCIO
4/17/2019
Counterfeit Detectors
Leeann Betts
4/3/2019
LANDING HARD
ERIN UNGER
3/27/2019
LOVING ONE ANOTHER
JERRI HARRINGTON
3/20/2019
TAKIN' IT TO THE LIMIT
TAMMY WHITEHURST
3/13/2019
DON'T HIT THE FAN
Julie Cosgrove
3/6/2019
NOT OF THIS WORLD
JUNE FOSTER
2/27/2019
THE POWER OF "WITH"/OVERCOMING ANXIETY
BARBARA BRITTON
2/20/2019
HITTING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROOVE
LINDA HANNA AND DEBORAH DULWORTH
2/13/2019
STIRRED, NOT SHAKEN
JULIE COSGROVE
2/6/2019
A CHURCH PLANTER'S WIFE
Meredith Kendall
1/23/2019
FIG LEAVES RIPPING?
Kathy Collard Miller
1/16/2019
A BEFORE I
Julie Cosgrove
1/9/2019
EVERYDAY CHOICES
Gail Pallotta
1/2/2019
YOU ARE THE APPLE OF HIS EYE
Kathy Collard Miller
12/26/2018
WHY WE SING JOY TO THE WORLD!
Ada Brownell
12/19/2018
Coming Home For Christmas
MICHELLE DE BRUIN
12/12/2018
WHY DO WE NEVER LEARN
Linda Wood Rondeau
12/5/2018
SAVED BY THE LAMB
Julie Cosgrove
11/28/2018
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Sandy Kirby Quandt
11/14/2018
HONESTLY SPEAKING
Linda Wood Rondeau
10/3/2018
Perceptual Blindness
Linda Wood Rondeau
10/1/2018
The God of the Mundane
Linda Wood Rondeau
8/30/2018
WHEN I WAS THREE
Linda Wood Rondeau
7/16/2018
THE PURSUIT OF PEACE
Linda Wood Rondeau
5/30/2018
