A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold (Proverbs 22:1).

My grandmother was laid to rest on the 22nd of April, 2010 (exactly one month prior to this posting).  Reflecting upon her life, I come to realize how true it is that "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."  By the end of her life, my grandmother was blessed to have both relative affluence and a good name; but of the two, I think that the high esteem was by far the greater asset.

The fact that my grandparents had made a good living for themselves -- allowing themselves the small "extravagances" of Grandma getting her hair done at the salon every week and eating out for dinner just about every night of the week -- was very nice for them.  They were able to travel a good bit during their younger years, and they never hesitated to use their "great riches" to bless their children and grandchildren by facilitating family gatherings (paying for plane tickets, hotel rooms, dinners out, etc.).  All of this was, indubitably, nice.  But how would it have been if this turned out to be the extent of the highlights mentioned during the family gatherings surrounding her funeral?  That would have been incredibly sad.  How much does one's financial situation really define a person's character?  How much does a bank account mean in the face of life and death?  In the grander scheme of things, the silver and gold and green things of this world really don't amount to much at all.

But fortunately, in the case of my grandmother, we were able to celebrate her good name when we gathered together as a family for her funeral.  I particularly valued her sweetness, unflappability, and faithfulness.  But this was really only the tip of the iceberg, when it came to remembering my grandmother.  She was highly esteemed by everyone who knew her.  Her name as better than gold.  It was clear to see, from everything that everyone had to say at her funeral, that my grandmother's life was valued for its demonstration of character and integrity.  She was a wonderful woman of God.  She was wealthy in a way that far transcends bank account balances and the prized posessions of this world.

Celebrating the life of my grandmother helped me to realize and refocus how I ultimately want to live my own life.  It helped to reinforce the wisdom of Proverbs 22:1 -- setting my sights on developing and maintaining a good name and high esteem in the eyes of the people I love.  Of course, we're all imperfect (even my grandmother was imperfect); but character and reputation speak of a "body of work," not just isolated incidents.  And with this in mind, we could all hope for what my family was able to experience at the passing of my grandmother:  peace, fulfillment, and the incalculable treasure of a good name.