A Good Name

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

“DARCY!”

With one word—the name of her very best friend—the two-year-old Golden retriever named Gracie woke from a sound sleep.

“Want to see Darcy?” Jen, her human, asked, her voice rising an octave on the last syllable.

Gracie stood up, vigorously shook herself from nose to tail, then immediately broke into her “Darcy dance.” She ran from window to window looking for her best canine friend. She pawed at the door. She spun in tight circles. She jumped at the knob on the back door, willing someone to take pity on her and open it.

Gracie simply could not wait to get to Darcy, the ten-year-old Portuguese water dog who lived across the street. The two had been friends since Gracie was a puppy and Darcy towered over her. Now the two dogs stood shoulder to shoulder. And although they differed in age and breed, the two had been best friends since they first sniffed each other more than two years ago.

“So, I take it you do want to see Darcy?” Jen teased.

Gracie barked her answer, scratching frantically at the door until Jen opened it. Gracie bounded from the back deck to the yard in one leap and ran around the corner to the front of the house. She ran to the end of the driveway where she sat in rapt attention, awaiting the first glimpse of her friend.

Watching Gracie’s anxious anticipation brought a sweet memory to the forefront of Jen’s mind—one of her beloved granddad. She had adored each of her grandparents, but both were gone now. It still made Jen tear up when special memories of them came to mind. The bond she shared with her granddad had been especially strong.

As a little girl, Jen couldn’t have imagined anyone stronger, smarter, or more talented than him. He could build anything, fix anything, and make anyone laugh—especially her. As a young girl, she once told him that he was stronger than Superman and nicer than Santa Claus. He was a simple and humble man who worked hard to earn a modest living for his family, but to his granddaughter he was more important than royalty.

I was just like you, Gracie, she thought with a smile. Waiting at the front door for my best friend to pull into the driveway.

Now Gracie was standing in the driveway, looking across the street. Darcy was with her human, just outside their front door. Gracie’s back end started to wiggle. With raised ears, an outstretched tail, and a straight back, she was the picture of controlled energy.

But the moment Darcy’s owner released her to cross the street and she stepped onto Gracie’s driveway, the Golden’s energy was released, and the dogs leapt toward each other with their version of a hug before engaging in a high-speed game of chase. They streaked across the yard, barking happily, then sporadically came to an abrupt halt to sniff the ground and then each other before repeating the cycle.

Jen laughed as she watched their antics. Yet the memory of her granddad still lingered in her mind. As Gracie ran circles of sheer joy around Darcy, Jen could almost feel her granddad wrap her in a bear hug.

“I love you, too,” she whispered, wrapping her arms tightly around her middle.

A moment later Darcy’s owner approached from one direction, and the two dogs ran toward Jen from the other direction, inviting her to romp with them. Granddad would have approved.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

Why is a good name better than riches? What kinds of attributes give someone a good name? Who would you consider to be someone with a “good name”? What characteristics made you select that person? What do you hope people think about when they hear your name?

Paws & Pray

Lord, help me to pursue a good name over fame and riches. Let me be known for my integrity, love, humility, and kindness. Lord, your name is the greatest name of all. Thank you for being an example I can emulate.

We may make our plans, but God has the last word.