“Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.” —St. Augustine
Beauty attracts. If I’m living in a way that repels people or if people do not feel comfortable when I’m around, then I really need to take a look at myself and ask “am I truly letting love grow within me?” Do I truly see the other person’s “I”? Do I really consider the other person before and above myself? Am I really “third”?
Sometimes I can fool myself to believing I’m loving the way I should. Sure, I’m praying, going to Mass, and studying the faith, but do I truly love God in others through the way that I speak to them, serve them, consider them, and deny myself for them? Or do I hold back? Do I doubt that the Lord can really change my heart of stone into flesh?
Heavenly Father, help me to love! Help me to get out of myself and stop being so selfish and egotistical. Help me to lose my life for Your sake. Please, O LORD, take my heart of stone, and turn it into flesh. Amen.