All opinions are always 100% honest and my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I also participate in: CJ Affiliate; eBay Partner Network; Rakuten Affiliate Network; ShareASale; Walmart Affiliate Program; independent affiliate networks.

Today was High Council Sunday. As is customary, the High Council speaker brought along a companion speaker. Because we have a small ward where each of has to frequently give talks, High Council Sunday is always a pleasure. But today was especially so.

As the companion speaker's husband led her to the podium, it became clear that she was blind. Her topic was “gratitude,” and as she talked, her conspicuous use of the words “beauty” and “beautiful” were hard to miss. She described her beautiful pets from long ago. She related a beautiful incident in which a little boy (about three years old) grabbed her by the hand, led her into the chapel for Sacrament Meeting and sat with her for the entire meeting. She even mentioned being grateful for her beautiful body. She spoke to the youth. She spoke to the Primary children separately from the rest of the congregation. Her immense sincerity and reverence was apparent. In spite of her loss of sight, she really could see beauty all around her.

I was reminded of the hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth (Hymn No. 92):

1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

[Chorus]
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,

3. For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,

If someone without sight can find so much beauty in the world, than how much more should I? I resolved to make better use of the words “beauty” and “beautiful” in my own life.

What beauty have you experienced today?

Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.