I cannot begin to imagine the dedication and discipline it would take to become an athlete in the Olympics. Most begin training when they are children. As they become older, their training becomes a full-time job. Olympic athletes train day and night. Their diet is strict, the workouts are challenging, and the work to constantly improve their skills is constant. All their efforts are for one purpose, to compete at the highest level with the hope of becoming an Olympic champion.
Maria Andrejczyk is an athlete from Poland. She has worked her entire life to become an Olympic athlete. She has competed in track and field most of her life. Maria earned an opportunity to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. She is one of the best javelin throwers in the world. In Tokyo, Maria proved she was one of the best when she won the silver medal. It was an amazing accomplishment for the 25-year-old.
It did not take Maria long to take on another challenge. Just a few days after winning the silver medal, Maria announced that she was helping to raise money for Miłoszek Małysa. Miloszek is an 8-year-old boy who needs a serious heart surgery that is only available at Stanford University. Between the travel from Poland to California, and the medical expenses, the family needed to raise over $350,000. Maria put her silver medal up for auction to help Miloszek. It was truly a selfless gesture. Maria had sacrificed for years to earn that medal – and now she would sacrifice again.
When the auction opened, many people placed bids. The winning bid came from Zabka, a Polish convenience store corporation. The bid was more than enough to pay for Miloszek and his family to travel to Stanford. The Zabka corporation was more than happy to pay the winning bid and immediately declined to accept Maria’s medal. Everyone benefited from Maria’s work.
We all work to be successful in so many areas, but Maria demonstrated the greatest success in life comes when we sacrifice for the sake of others. Her sacrifice blessed Miloszek and everyone who witnessed her compassion and efforts to make a difference. It is a reminder to us all that we can bless others when we offer who we are, and what we have earned, to help our neighbors.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
