Author Lisa Jordan
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The Smallest Voice Can Have the Greatest Impact

by | Uncategorized | 7 comments


**This post is cross-posted at MBT Ponderers, but the message is so important I wanted to share it with my readers who haven’t visited the MBT Ponderers blog yet…and you really should. 🙂

This sweet little guy is my friend Melissa Tagg’s adorable nephew. He’s a well-known extended family member to the MBT Ponderers, which is a writing support/prayer group that Melissa and I are in together.  

We have been praying for Ollie (and his parents, Amy and Chip) since the day we learned he had been diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

Despite his special abilities & challenging health issues, he has brought a lot of joy and delight to his family… and those of us who never tire of Aunt Melissa’s Ollie stories and YouTube videos.

This past Saturday I spent a beautiful sunny day inside our local Holiday Inn attending a six-hour training for my day job in early childhood education. As someone who works with children on a regular basis, I understand the importance of being a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves.
Kurt Kondrich, a husband, dad, former police officer, and an early intervention specialist, directed the first session, Meet Chloe’s Dad—The Importance of Early Intervention. Instead of boring the room with facts and statistics, he made his presentation personal by sharing his story. Kurt’s youngest child Chloe was born with Down Syndrome. Through early intervention, Chloe has overcome many challenges that accompany her special abilities such as reading by the age of 3, attending a full inclusion classroom, and meeting with political officials, community members and major sports personalities for her small voice to be heard.
Today is World Down Syndrome Day. The 21st signifies the extra chromosome people with Down’s Syndrome possess. (And Melissa told me Ollie is 21 months old today!)

Fifteen years ago, my niece was born prematurely due to prenatal complications and special abilities. Through the years Lilly has taught our family what being special truly means. She ministers to people with her unconditional love and ability to encourage others. Her sweetness hasn’t been soured by the cynicism of life. I simply can’t imagine not having her in our lives. Naturally we’d prefer she didn’t have the physical and medical issues that limit her. God knew what He was doing when He gave her the parents she has. They are her voices when she can’t speak for herself. 


Writers yearn for their voices to be heard. Imagine if no one could hear us? Then what? Wouldn’t we want someone to speak up for us? 



These are just three children of thousands upon thousands whose voices can easily be drowned out. Our words and our actions need to be their loudspeakers. If we partner with our friends who have special abilities, then we can be their voice and advocate on their behalf. And the smallest voices can have the greatest impact. After all, God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. 


Your Turn: Has your life been blessed by a child or adult with special abilities? How can you help be a voice?
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7 Comments

  1. Terri Tiffany
    Terri Tiffany on March 21, 2012 at 7:57 am

    I worked for years with adults with Down's syndrome as a counselor and in workshops. I understand the huge blessing they are to others and their unconditional love.:)) Thank you for a great post!

  2. Lisa Jordan
    Lisa Jordan on March 21, 2012 at 8:02 am

    Terri, I wish I had known that when I was writing my second book. I would have come to you for advice. The one trait I love about people with special abilities is their genuine love and honesty. Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience.

  3. Lindsay Harrel
    Lindsay Harrel on March 21, 2012 at 9:33 am

    What a sweet post, Lisa! My nephew is slightly special needs, but nothing major (slight autism spectrum disorder), but any kids I've known with special needs tend to be just the absolute sweetest!

  4. Jessica R. Patch
    Jessica R. Patch on March 21, 2012 at 9:35 am

    Beautiful post, Lisa! I've been touched by so many little lives! I teared up, friend. 🙂

  5. Melissa Tagg
    Melissa Tagg on March 21, 2012 at 9:40 am

    I already commented on the Ponderers post, Lisa, so here I'll just say THANK YOU for speaking up for Ollie, Lilly, Chloe and kids with special abilities. Has my life been blessed by Ollie? More than I can say.

  6. Loree Huebner
    Loree Huebner on March 21, 2012 at 11:42 am

    I believe that these children are a gift from God to us…to keep us real and grounded.

    I've seen Ollie on Melissa's blog. He brings a smile to my face!

    Great post.

  7. Jill Kemerer
    Jill Kemerer on March 23, 2012 at 11:11 am

    What a beautiful message! And Ollie is such a cutie. 🙂

    My cousin works with adults with special needs. I love hearing his enthusiasm and true joy for his job. 🙂