[00:00.31]15.The Most Beautiful Flower

[00:04.34]The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.

[00:13.05]Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, for the world was intent on dragging me down.

[00:20.24]And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day, a young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.

[00:28.09]He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”

[00:36.14]In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, with its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light.

[00:47.96]Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

[00:56.23]But instead of retreating he sat down next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise,

[01:05.48]“It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too.

[01:08.64]That’s why I picked it; here, it’s for you.”

[01:12.78]The weed before me was dying or dead，not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.

[01:19.32]But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.

[01:23.01]So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.”

[01:29.11]But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, he held it mid-air without reason or plan.

[01:37.61]It was then that I noticed for the very first time, that the boy could not see: he was blind.

[01:46.64]I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun.

[01:51.87]As I thanked him for picking the very best one,

[01:55.46]“You’re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play, unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.

[02:02.98]I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.

[02:11.36]How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.

[02:20.40]Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see, the problem was not with the world; the problem was with me.

[02:30.11]And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see beauty.

[02:35.80]Then I held that wilted flower up to my nose, breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose and smiled as that young boy.

[02:45.86]Another weed in his hand was about to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.