“The White Daisies”

A fictional short story

By: Amy Jane Sandberg

It was long week the week her dad died. She felt like a zombie. The day after the funeral she found a bunch of fresh cut white daisies on her door step. As a child she had loved the flower and it brought back many pleasant memories from her past. It lifted her mood, though she had no idea who had left these flowers there. Over the next few months she would find a fresh bunch once a week.

After a year the pain was not as deep, nor gone. However she was now engaged to a man who was new to the town and it felt like life was getting better for her. He was a simple man, smart, not very rich, and very kind.

On their wedding day he wore a single daisy on his tux. She was appalled that the wedding planner had let him do so. She tried to force him to wear a white rose from her bouquet, but he refused. She gave in since it was seemed to be a trivial battle and she loved him too much to start their marriage off with a fight.

They had a good marriage, yet every birthday, Christmas, and major holiday the only flowers he would buy her were plain white daisies. No matter how much she complained or bagged it made no difference. Didn’t he care what she though, wasn’t she worth more than that?!  When they were newly married she thought I was cute, and that was all he could afford. But now she knew he could do much better than those darned daisies! It was beginning to drive a wedge between them in her heart, and she resented, even hated those flowers. She began to not care when she received them anymore. She told him to stop wasting his time if he wasn’t going to send her what she wanted then he should not waste his money. They no longer brought her joy but frustrations’ and anger.

After it seemed countless years of marriage and their children were gown with children of their own her beloved husband grew very ill. The doctors warned her he would most likely not make it through the night. She loved him so but the only thing she could think about was those darned daisies. She wanted to ask him why he tormented her so with them, was it his way of keeping some control in the relationship, did he do it to make her mad on purpose? She needed to know once and for all why? She got up the courage to ask him just before the nurse would come to send her home for the night.

His answer was this. “I remember the first time I saw you at your father’s funeral. I happened to be there visiting my grandfather’s grave, you looked so sad and yet you kept up a strong front for your mother and others that were there. I fell in love with you that day.  I didn’t know what to do or how to approach you so I did some research and found some white daisies to leave on your door step. I chose that flower because it reminded me of you. I liked what the flower meant. ‘Pure, along with a true love’ depending where you looked.  Yet I also liked that it reminded me of you. It is a small, simple, strong, beautiful, and yet joyful. I wanted them to encourage you, and prayed they would bring you joy.   And it seemed to work. I kept it up even after I got the courage to ask you to dinner for the first time.   I thought about what you said when you complained about them, and almost did as you asked. However I couldn’t It was as if was cheating on you when looked at other flowers. I hoped and prayed you would ask me why them, but you didn’t. You just complained.   I almost stopped giving them to you, however I knew if you ever did ask me why and I told you; you may have questioned or even doubted my love for it. I have never stopped loving you! You are my Gift from God, my white Daisy!”

Utterly moved she was left speechless… She had been so vain, selfish, and petty about the whole matter. Sahe was overwhelmed with remorse towards all her previous thoughts about the white daisies. And how had she forgotten about how they had once made the world of a difference in her life? Ashamed she fell to her knees and prayed. “Dear God please forgive me I sure made a mess of things, and I took my beloved husband and best friend for granted. Please give me a second chance to love on my Husband, and to truly appreciate him, help me make things right!  Please heal Him Completely!”

The next day she got a call from the hospital. Fearing the worst had happened, she slowly answered the phone. “Hello… I know it is still very early in the morning but I‘d like to tell you the good news as soon as possible. Your husband took a sudden turn around and his body is accepting the medicine now, we are not sure why. But there has been a great change in his vitals and he will be able to check out within the next forty –eight hours!!”  In shock and overwhelming joy she again fell to her knees and Praised God!  Never again did she question or doubt her husband’s small gestures but delighted in his presence because he was her Gift from God!   

~The End

This came to me in a dream around 3am this morning. This was a personal test for me. I wanted to see if I could write a quick full story, and it turned out better than I had hoped. Along with a great message that has come to mind.

How often do we take life’s gifts, God’s Gifts, any gift for granted?  Instead of appreciating what we are given, or have we may complain, or think be mad it isn’t what we wanted, or that it is not enough. Instead we need to just say Thank you! I’m not just talking about material gifts. I am talking about all gifts, including people. How many people do we take for granted?

I have trouble accepting gifts at times. I sometimes even hurt the people I love.  I am far from perfect.  But God loves us so much, enough to have sent the Ultimate Gift Jesus Christ. John 3:16 Who died on the Cross so that we could have a another chance to get it right, to be forgiven  for the things we should not do, but do every so often, like maybe tell a small lie, loose our temper unjustly, say things we shouldn’t…. We are Human. God knew what we needed; there was a lot of thought put into this gift and limitless love. We just need to decide if we want to take it.

God shows His love for us not only with Jesus, but in many things. Great parking on a rainy day, a cool breeze on a hot day, a much needed hug from a friend, a burst of energy when we feel like we can’t go on any ore, or peace in a stressful situation!   As my pastor says “Is your Receiver broken?”  I know mine was fixed recently…  My Giver is working well too. If receiving feels great you should try giving. It feels even better.  And you don’t have to give something material, but maybe some of your time? Who knows, it may just change a person’s life.

~Thanks for Reading and God Bless you!

~*Amy Jane