Article September 7, 2020 Issue

How God sees me

Barbara Horton

It’s easy to be critical when we look at ourselves in the mirror. The media so constantly bombard us with images of youth and beauty that it’s tempting to become discouraged by any perceived imperfection or sign of aging in our appearance.

Each morning, I spend time praying and studying the Bible Lesson found in the Christian Science Quarterly. This uplifts and prepares me spiritually for the day. But then, looking in the mirror as I get ready for work, I catch myself saying unloving things to my reflection, such as “Are you kidding me?” “How can you hide these wrinkles?” and “When are you going to lose weight?”

Thoughts such as these come so subtly that I often accept them as my own without realizing it. And when I do catch them, I’m struck by how quickly I have been influenced to switch from the inspired view gained in my spiritual study to an ungodlike, material way of seeing. I’ve come to realize that these limiting, matter-based thoughts run counter to the spirit of the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:3–17).

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