Down Syndrome Awareness: Physically and Spiritually Fit

[Down Syndrome Awareness month] 

Our Daily Fred: Most Sunday afternoons, and other afternoons during the week, you'll find Joshua headed to the gym with his Dad. 

Joshua is committed to physical fitness, as well as to an all-around healthy lifestyle. 

The fitness part started when he was 16 years old...when one of his teachers introduced him to the sport of Powerlifting. This teacher encouraged Jim to take Joshua to the Special Olympics Sports camp, where Jim became certified as a Powerlifting coach for Special Olympics. This led to Joshua switching from competing in track and field events, like the 50 meter dash at Special O...to competing in Powerlifting events. 

And it has been the best thing. 

Joshua has developed a love for fitness. He gets up early most mornings, to work-out in his room before he starts his day. His commitment to physical fitness has made it possible for him to achieve many of his goals, including participating in Special O on the state and local level, as well as representing the state of Arkansas at the national games in 2006. 

Also important to Joshua is his commitment to be spiritually fit. He has his quiet time every morning. He reads his Bible, works in his journal, and reads from a devo book. He spends time in prayer. This commitment keeps Joshua in-tune with what God is teaching him. It gives him inner strength on hard days, and peace on the days when life doesn't make sense. He understands what it means to be thankful...what it means to have empathy for others. He believes in the power of prayer, because he's seen it in his own life. 

Joshua is also committed to healthy eating. This was hard for him, when he was younger, because: Hostess ding-dongs and snack cakes. 

Can I get an "Amen?" 

But Joshua wants to be like his Dad, so when Jim made a conscious choice to eat healthier...Joshua did, too. This commitment has kept Joshua lean and healthy. 

These are all things that we encouraged early-on, but never forced on him. It's been great to see him take some responsibility for his health and fitness, and make wise choices on his own. 

"...fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you..." Isaiah 41:10