TCM

Today is Joshua Taylor’s 20th birthday. I want to share a valuable life lesson as I recap a snippet of his Sophomore year at Howard University. Highs! As you saw, he led a team of more than 20 incoming business students to win the coveted 21 Capstone Team of the Year! Even before the school year started, Team of the Year was the first thing on his mind. This was the equivalent of coaching your team to a crowning championship - enduring the developmental challenges of presentations, case studies, multiple evening meetings each week, and working with their sponsor, Mastercard. He cried when they made the announcement - as did many of his “kids” as he called them. He has established healthy friendships, achieved academic excellence, actively contributed time and resources to charity, and is a wiser individual due to his experiences this year. Lows! He put A LOT of energy into joining an organization and was not accepted this year. It crushed him. He was a finalist for a summer internship with the Milwaukee Bucks and found out (two days ago) that they did not choose him. He’s still crushed. His career dream is to work as an executive for a professional sports club. Both of these losses happened within the past 4 months. Last night, he summarized it best by saying, ……. Lesson! You want God’s predestined plan and purpose for you (Thy will be done - not my own). It is important to remember your mountain-top experiences because God is reminding you that you are still his child, he hears your prayers, and silence does not mean that he’s forsaken you. Denial doesn’t mean he’s punishing you. It is important to live life from a posture of victory. As long as you prioritize God and are diligent about doing good, every hill and valley serves as preparation towards a destiny far greater than the eye can see! You are being strengthened and developed by those denials. Celebrate the victories with mindfulness because they are the fuel to get you through life’s inevitable disappointments. Trust that God has already won the victory and yours is guaranteed as long as you stay in His Will! ….” I’ve had A LOT of losses in my short life. I don’t understand it. I’m trying SO HARD and I keep asking myself if this is my destiny. Am I destined to keep coming up short? Should I change my high aspirations and “do life” the normal way with low-risk outcomes? ….I’ve decided not to give up on my dreams. I’m going to stick with it and trust that my victory is out there if I keep trying.” I’m a Proud Dad because Josh’s response is the prayer that I started praying more than 20 years and nine months ago (when Kelley Taylor was pregnant). I wanted Josh to know God, pursue good at all costs, have a loving spirit, and smile. Through his highs and lows, I’m proud to say that Josh is still smiling!