The Best In Me

Tonight while reviewing calculus functions I had a Celebration of Gospel playing on my television for some background noise. It celebrated its tenth anniversay and Steve Harvey has hosted every year. In a surprise addition to the show, BET paid honor and tribute to Steve Harvey for being a wonderful committed host for the last ten years both in song and in word. In musical tribute to Steve, Donny McClurkin encouraged him and sang "We fall down" as Steve, unaware of the tribute, sat humbly with his wife and fought tears. After Donny McClurkin came Marvin Sapp, singing a song entitled "God Saw the Best in Me", which Steve Harvery, already wiping heavy tears falling down his face, buried his face in his hand and cried.

As I watched, my memory took to a few months ago when Steve Harvey, in the inspirational portion of his morning show, spilled his heart about the Celebration of Gospel awards show, how he was considering not hosting it, thought he wouldn't be asked again. But how he received a call from BET and it humbled him because he didn't feel like the most worthy person to serve as host and yet they asked him back. He experienced God agape love in this experience.

It also reminded me of a conversation with several people about Steve Harvey's book Act Like a Woman, Think Like a Man, a New York Times best seller. The people criticized his audacity to write a book about relationships when he's had two previous marriages end in divorce. They questioned his credibility in giving advice altogether. And tonight, as I watched him cry, I thanked God that people are not our judge. I thanked God that our past decisions do not determine how God feels about us, that He stills sees the best in us despite what our past may indicate. I asked God to not allow me to make judgements about peoples' value to the kingdom based on their lives. I thanked God that just like God showed his unconditional love for Steve in this gesture of honoring him for his commitment to BET, He too shows his unconditional love towards me each day for me.

Sitting next to him, with her arm wrapped around his shoulders, was his beautiful wife, watching him with loving eyes. And I thought, who's to say that just becuase a man/woman has had some things to not work out in their lives, that they still don't deserve loving companions, friends, and family surrounding them for the remainder of their lives? If God took that stance, my goodness, we would all be unloved. But it blessed me to see her there, with him, supporting him, even in his vulnerability, proud and standing by her man. I thought of my own father and the love and support he's found in an awesome woman he's been married to for 10 or so years and how despite some of the hardship he's faced in his lifetime, how God still saw fit to give him His Best in a mate that loves him and has its back. We want it for ourselves; we should want it for others.

So tonight, I'm humbled by the mercy of God's love to allow us to live our life with heads raised and hearts light becuase there is nothing that can separate us from HIS love. Let me say again: there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Nothing. And tonight I, and Steve Harvey, were reminded of that fact. And I am grateful.

Here's to new beginnings,
Crystal Goodman



"Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime. "- W.E.B. Du Bois