I am currently taking a 7:45 educational philosophy class. So far I have really enjoyed it. Right now the education department of BYU-I is looking to hire a new staff member. My class was chosen to be the audience of the candidates observed lecture. Their topic was "How can we follow the Savior to become master teachers?" Pretty legit right? I think so. Anyways, the second candidate came to our class today. He is a short man with wispy blonde hair. For all you Harry Potter fans, just imgaine Professor Flitwik and Professor Lockheart combined! He was a brilliant teacher and the lecture went well in my opinion. But nothing struck me as life altering until he introduced his lovely wife. His wife is blind and has been since birth. She has a degree in music composition. Let's just stop there for a second. Seriously, music composition?? She is blind. She still had to master all of the concepts of music theory, aural skills, scoring, and arranging that I currently have to, but she can't use her eyes. That's incredible. Anyways, towards the end of the lesson, Mr. Elliot's wife played us a song that she had written. As she accompanied herself on the piano, I struggled to hold back my tears. First off, the music was brilliant. It was simple but emotional. The lyrics were beautiful beyond belief. She sang from the heart. She sang about how she has never seen the photographs of the ones she has loved and lost. She has never seen the smiles on her children's faces. She has never seen the sunrise from a mountain top. And yet...she can see. Through her faith in Christ she testified of how she knows that she is loved and will be able to see again.
I felt so guilty. How often do I, as an insecure girl, sit and criticize my body? I am always dissatisfied. It seems easy to always find something about myself to despise. Why? Satan does not have a body. He wants us to find every reason to hate and defile it that we possibly can.
Today...I found exactly the opposite. I found a new sense of gratitude that I have never experienced. I love my body. I love that I can walk with ease. I have complete control over my emotions and muscles. I can see. I can hear. Why do I take those things for granted so often? I am so blessed. Honestly, I cannot explain how deeply grateful I am for all of my blessings that come from my functioning body. It is a wonder to me. The human body is so incredible. May we all take time to cultivate an innate gratitude for this truly glorious gift we have been given. Hopefully some of you don't have to be struck into humility in order to realize the splendor we have before our eyes.
Today I will take a little extra time to truly look around me. To see the colors, the light, the dark, and all the beauty the world has to offer.
