Consider This: The Case for Kindness

In 2021, after years of hard work and dedication, Polish javelin thrower Marie Andrejczyk realized a dream by winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. While this accomplishment was worth celebrating and remembering, what she did next was even more impressive.

Andrejczyk heard about an 8-month-old boy who needed heart surgery, so she decided to auction off her medal and donate the money to the family. A Polish convenience store named Zabka purchased the medal for $125 000. The family of the little boy received the money, and the surgery was completed. However, the story does not end there.

After winning the auction, Zabka contacted Andrejczyk and informed her that they were returning the medal to her. In the end, the store received some good publicity, a baby received the medical care he needed, and Maria was able to keep the medal she had worked so hard to win. That is what happens when we lead with kindness.

Unfortunately, kindness is not a word that gets a lot of respect. In many ways, we treat it as a child’s word. Follow any mother or any preschool teacher around for very long, and you will hear them reminding their children to be kind. However, kindness is not a childish word. It is powerful, inspiring, and even life-changing. Even in situations where correction is needed, kindness is always the proper starting place. I may not always know the right answer or the right advice to give, but I almost always know how to be kind. When I start there, the other answers come more easily.

This year will bring many experiences, both good and bad, but we can make a difference and make things better if kindness is our first move.

Just ask Maria Andrejczyk.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness…” (Galatians 5:22)

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