Lovelier than a summer's day

Originally appeared on spirituality.com

In recent weeks, I’ve found my thoughts turning toward Shakespeare’s 18th sonnet, in which he describes his beloved’s fadeless beauty as even “more lovely and more temperate” than a summer’s day.

Those words resonate for me, along with two passages from Science and Health: “The radiant sun of virtue and truth coexists with being. Manhood is its eternal noon, undimmed by a declining sun” (p. 246). And, “The Divine Being must be reflected by man,—else man is not the image and likeness of the patient, tender, and true, the One ‘altogether lovely’; . . .” (p. 3).

I have certainly seen the value of applying these spiritual truths in my own life. When challenged by others making disparaging remarks about me —or even when tempted into berating myself—I have been uplifted by reminding myself that as God’s reflection I am “altogether lovely”—and that is the only true way I can see myself, or be seen by others.

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