Last week I was eating lunch at a local Chick-Fil-A when I noticed a young women with Down syndrome working at this particular location. (As a parent of a child with Down syndrome I’m hyper aware anytime a see someone with Down syndrome, especially when they are working. It encourages me!) As I was getting my lunch I overheard another employee ask her to wipe off a huge stack of plastic trays and place a paper tray liner on them.
I sat down to eat my lunch and watched as the women with Down syndrome faithfully preformed the task assigned to her. I started to think about my own son. How I deeply desire for him to do something “meaningful” with his life. Something more “important” than wiping off plastic trays.
I confess that I sometimes have a very small minded view of what it means for one to do something “meaningful” with ones life. Having “meaning” doesn’t mean you have to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a pastor, or wear a suit everyday to work. No, meaningful work is something much deeper than that.
Webster’s directory defines “meaningful” as:
having a meaning or purpose
Did you catch that? Meaningful work means that you have meaning or that you have a purpose as you work. It’s not about your specific job description or tasks assigned to you – it’s about you! No matter what you do in life, if you wake up everyday with a purpose, your work is meaningful!
It doesn’t matter if you’re wiping down plastic trays, or preforming heart surgery – you can determine if your work is meaningful or not.
Your meaning doesn’t come from what you do, it comes from who you are!
The question you have to ask yourself is, “Why do I do what I do?” Why do you get out of bed every morning and do what you do? If you say, “for a paycheck” I want you to think bigger than that. I want you to ask yourself why do you do what you do? Answer that question, then wake up every day and live that out!
For the girl with Down syndrome working at this Chick-Fil-A I bet she would say something like, ” to contribute to society,” or to “show the world that people with Down syndrome can work just like everyone else” or something to that effect.
Her work is extremely meaningful. Every day that she goes to work she has go deal with people starring at her, or talking down to her, or maybe even being afraid of her because they have never met anyone with Down syndrome before – yet she does it. She shakes off all of that, goes to work, and her life (and work) has great meaning, no matter what “task” she is doing.
Answer the question of “why” and not “what” and you’ll find much more “meaning” in whatever you do.
Noah has Down syndrome, and one of the characteristics of Down syndrome is cognitive delays. Unless there is some medical miracle in Noah’s lifetime that helps people with Down syndrome with this, his cognitive ability will more than likely prevent him from becoming a Doctor, or a lawyer, or an astronaut. Sometimes we say things like, “He can do anything he wants to.” As nice as that statement is, it isn’t true. It’s not putting a limit on Noah, it’s defining reality. Don’t get me wrong, if he really wants to try to become a Doctor, I’ll stay up with him and help him study for the MCAT every night, all night – that would be awesome!
The truth of the matter is, he may end up working at Chick-Fil-A, at a car dealership, or at one of the many other companies that hire people with “special needs.” As long as he goes to work every day understanding that his purpose doesn’t come form what he does, but from who he is, I’m good with that.
In fact, at only 6 years old, Noah’s life already has tremendous meaning, purpose, and impact. He reaches people all around the world through this blog, our Facebook page, and Instagram as he shows the world what life is like raising a chid with Down syndrome.
To the girl working at Chick-Fil-A, thank you. Thank you for working hard and for showing the world every day just by your presence that people with Down syndrome are capable of working just like anyone else. Thank for probably putting up some ignorant people every day who say rude things (both knowingly and unknowingly.) Thanks for reminding my idea of “meaning”is pretty small sometimes. Thanks for paving the way for children like Noah to have jobs as they grow up. I don’t know you, but I appreciate you.
To Noah – you may not be able to do “anything” you want to do, but you’ll be able to have meaning in whatever it is you do. In fact, as I said above your life already has great meaning. I love you so much and so I’m proud to be your dad. I’m proud of all the milestones you’ve already achieved, and am thankful to have a front row seat to all that God is going to do in and through your life (and already has!) I hope I do a good job of teaching you that meaning comes from who you are as a person created in the image of God more than anything you’ll ever “do.” – I love you! – Dad
To parents of children with Down syndrome, or other “disabilities;” how do you feel about the future for your children? How do you feel when you see someone with “special needs” working at a company that you’re doing business with? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts!
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Thank you for posting this Rick.
I have been dealing with this as it relates to my hidden disabilities...anxiety, ADHD and dysthymia (low grade form of chronic depression)
Now off to revaluation my purpose for my work!!!
Xoxoxo
You're welcome, and keep on keeping on!
I love work. I love having a task, understanding that task, doing it well, and feeling satisfied when it's done. I do so many things every day in life that may seem meaningless....wash the dishes, fold the clothes, sweep the floor etc. I feel good doing it and I feel great when it's done. It's about your mindset and your outlook on life and work in general.
I work with high school students who are on the autism spectrum and who have Down's syndrome. My favorite part of my day is teaching and doing vocational work with my students. They love it and I love it!
Wow Cindy! It's pretty clear how much purpose and meaning your job has! Way to go.
I work at a school for adults with developmental disabilities, that also has a supportive employment program. The joy on the faces of the participants when they get a job is incredible. If they are folding napkins, wiping tables, or just helping, having a job makes them feel worthwhile, a contributor to their own well-being, a contributor to society. Every job is important to that person, and to that business, no matter how trivial it may seem to others. That young lady at Chik-Fil-A is working to earn her own money - making her feel that she is contributing, no matter the job.
So true! Thanks for all you do, Kathleen.
I am very positive about my sons' future. Like you I want to encourage him to do whatever he wants and not limit him. I am encouraged when I see a teenager or adult working. As a new parent, I want to say something to them or even if they are out with the parents, I want to say something to the parents but i feel awkward. I want to cheer them on and high five them all.
I'd say just go for it! I bet the parents (and the person you are talking to) will be super encouraged by your encouragement. :)
I think your post was awesome...: I love Noah & your whole family. I'm realizing now that my Uncle Tim probably had DS ..... He passed away many years ago.... but I am so glad for Noah & others with DS, that we live in a time when people are better educated about it. See, my Uncle grew up in the 60's & 70's.... in the country. Back then, they just labeled everyone the same.... Retarded or mongoloid.... it was awful. But my uncle never went to school and rarely, if ever, was made to even go to the Doctor. Anyhow, thank you for sharing your life and family. God bless.
Thanks for the kind words, Kim.
I love your blog!!!!! I am the aunt to a precious baby girl that has downs, I keep up with all the latest information I can find, and I share it with her parents and her grandparents. You helped me get her birthday/Christmas ( she is a December baby). My mom is the one who frets the most because she wants her to be able to take care of herself when she gets older and not get taken advantage of. Please keep sharing your life with us, I thank you and may God continue to bless you, your wife & Noah!!!!
Thanks for your comment and your encouragement, Bertina! You sound like an awesome grandmother. :)
Thanks for sharing, Rick and I am praising God that the young lady at the Chik store showed you that there can be joy in work. My friends, for the most part former students, just love their work. Some are at the Work Shop and some at a Recycling Center. They take joy in whatever their work is supposed to be.
Thanks Dorothy, and thanks for all that you do.
Beautiful - thanks for all you do! We know our son is wonderful, too, know matter what work he does. He is just as valuable as others, and we hope we are showing in our community how people can be blessed by knowing someone with Down Syndrome. I'm thankful for people who hire them, and enjoy seeing their smiles as they work.
You're very welcome, Katie! It sounds like you guys are great parents. Keep it up!
I work with adults that have special needs. I'm the supervisor of supported employment and oversee the department that works to support people with special needs to work in the community. My employment training specialists get to know the person, looks for a job that matches their interests and abilities, teaches them their job responsibilities and then gives them their independence, sometimes for the first time in their lives, so they too can be a contributing member of their community. There is no feeling that bets the happiness of our people when they get a job and are accepted as one of the team. It's true that there are some limits as to what our people can do as a career, but there are no limits when it comes to how invaluable they are at their jobs. They are usually more dedicated to the work they perform, more reliable, more trustworthy and more satisfied and loyal to where they work than their non-disabled co-workers. Although we teach them a lot of things for work and for being independent in the community, there is no doubt they teach us just as much on so many different levels. I've learned to never put limits on what our people with special needs can and do accomplish because to do that is to stunt their growth and none of us has the right to stunt anyone's growth. Life is about living to be the best person you can be and to help those along the way to do the same.
Thanks for your comment and thank so much for all you do!
I know that within reason Ben will be awesome at whatever he does because he works so hard at everything he does. He's an overcomer.
For me it is scary when I think about his future meaning. Not because Ben wouldn't be able to do anything, but more of what he will have to put up with. I dont want him to get hurt and want to protect him. However; I know as a good parent I might have to let go and he will probably get hurt but I will be here to love him, encourage him and help him rise above it.
Denise,
Thanks for your comment. What you are feeling could be true for any child. Our job as parents as to help them understand where there wroth comes from (and it's not from what other people think / say about them.)
Keep us posted on yall's journey!