The Good Name

The Good Name

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8

Bill and Gloria Gaither had been married a couple of years when they began looking for some land where they might one day build a house. They were both school teachers in Alexandria, Indiana, where Bill had grown up. They had their eye on a parcel south of town where cattle grazed, and they learned it belonged to a ninety-two-year-old retired banker named Mr. Yule. They asked around and learned that he owned quite a bit of land in the area but he would not sell any of it. He gave the same speech to everyone who inquired: “I promised the farmers they could use it for their cattle.”

Bill and Gloria, long before they won Grammy awards and sold millions of gospel albums, visited Mr. Yule at the bank. Although he was retired, he spent a couple of hours each morning in his office. He looked at them over the top of his bifocals.

Bill introduced himself and told him they were interested in a piece of his land. “Not selling,” he said pleasantly. “Promised it to a farmer for grazing.”

“I know,” said Bill, “but we teach school here and thought maybe you’d be interested in selling it to someone planning to settle in the area.”

He pursed his lips and stared at Bill. “What’d you say your name was?”

“Gaither. Bill Gaither.”

“Hmmm. Any relation to Grover Gaither?”

“Yes, sir. He was my granddad.”

Mr. Yule put down his paper and removed his glasses. “Interesting. Grover Gaither was the best worker I ever had on my farm. Full day’s work for a day’s pay. So honest. What’d you say you wanted?”

Bill told him again.

“Let me do some thinking on it, and then come back and see me.”

Bill came back within the week, and Mr. Yule told Bill he had had the property appraised. Bill held his breath. “How does $3,800 sound? Would that be okay?”

“$3,800?” Bill repeated.

“Yup. Fifteen acres for $3,800.”

Bill knew it had to be worth at least three times that. He readily accepted.

Nearly three decades later, Bill and his son strolled that beautiful, lush property that had once been pasture land. “Benjy,” he said, “you’ve had this wonderful place to grow up through nothing that you’ve done, but because of the good name of a great-granddad you never met.”^a

We are all the beneficiaries of a gift because of the good name of Jesus: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” And by that grace, live out your marriage in such a way that you might leave a good name behind you.

Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of.

—Socrates

^a 7