WINsday Inspiration

Jewel Diamond Taylor
2 days ago
3 min read

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Since my father was a jewelry maker and owner of R. Lewis Jewelry Store in Washington, D.C. where I was born...I became fascinated by gems. And of course, with my name, I was definitely intrigued about gems. In fact, my first book was titled "Diamond Quotations."

Learning how something rough and ordinary on the outside could hold brilliance on the inside. I didn’t fully understand it then. But I do now because life taught me the same lesson those stones did. Watch this video.

Men standing in rivers… in ocean sand… tapping rocks. Nothing fancy. Just steady pressure. And then… crack. And inside? Something beautiful. Something hidden. Something valuable. That’s not just a rock. That’s you and me. See, a geode doesn’t look like much at first glance. It’s easy to overlook. Easy to dismiss. But it carries something powerful within it. And it doesn’t open until it’s been struck.

Some of you have been under pressure lately. Loss. Delays. Disappointment. Seasons that got you looking up at the ceiling at 3:00 am thinking, “Lord…really... what is THIS?”

But what if life isn’t trying to break you? What if it’s trying to open you? See, I learned from gemstones and from my life…you don’t crack to fall apart. You crack to reveal what’s been in you all along.

Pressure reveals strength. Pain reveals wisdom. Hard seasons reveal your real voice.

Diamonds go through pressure and cutting before they shine. And whew… some of y’all been getting spiritually sandblasted lately. But look at you. Still standing. Still loving. Still praying. Still putting on lip gloss and trying again. That’s power.

Stop hiding the fact that you’ve been through something. Nobody trusts someone who got a testimony-free life anyway. Your scars carry wisdom. Your survival carries beauty. Your resilience is evidence of God's grace and your inner strength. Don’t rush to become your old self again. Life is upgrading your spirit, not punishing you. There is something precious inside of you…and this season is not crushing you, it’s opening you.

Stay in the light.

I am sharing an important opportunity that was brought to my attention by one of our Brothers of BLOOM advisory board members – Charles Harper - for Black male high school seniors interested in pursuing careers in medicine or dentistry.

Tennessee State University and Meharry Medical College offer an accelerated 7-year MD/DDS pathway program with potential full-ride scholarship opportunities. At this time, there are reportedly no Black male applicants, and the program coordinators are seeking qualified candidates as soon as possible.

Program Details:

Target Applicants: Black male high school seniors

Minimum Requirements:

3.5 GPA

28 ACT score

Outcome:

Accelerated pathway to an MD or DDS degree in 7 years

Benefit:

Potential full-ride scholarship opportunity

Additional program information:

If you know any graduating high school seniors who may qualify and have an interest in becoming a physician or dentist, please share this information with them and encourage them to reach out.

Program Contacts:

Ms. Barbara Murrell

Founder & Chair

bmurrell@tnstate.edu

(615) 804-6125

Ms. Lalita Hodge

Program Coordinator

lhodge@tnstate.edu

(615) 963-6949

Mischa L. Harris, MPH, BSHA

Associate Director, Breast Imaging and Sonography (Body, Vascular Lab &POCUS)

Interim Associate Director, Diagnostic X-Ray