James1:22 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
The word “daisy” comes from an Old English term meaning “day’s eye.” It earned that name because its petals open in the morning and close at dusk. The flower has long symbolized purity, innocence, and simplicity. To each of us, there is only one Daisy. Daisy was the perfect name for her.
Her presence entered my life in 1997, during one of the darkest seasons I have ever known. In the shattering days and weeks after Katie’s death, my pain felt like it would never end. I wasn’t sure how I could go on living with a broken heart. As I struggled to find my footing, one evening this sweet woman called me. It was a simple phone call, yet it became the beginning of something that would slowly change everything.
Daisy listened to me. She cared. She pointed me toward the same faith that had been such a comfort to her. It wasn’t an instant fix, and it didn’t erase the sorrow. Instead, she offered small words of hope and encouragement – something I could hold on to when each day felt overwhelming. Little by little, those moments of kindness helped me see beyond my grief. Daisy was a gift to me at just the right time. When everything had been stripped away, she reminded me that God still sees, still provides, and still sends people to walk beside us in our darkest moments.
Daisy didn’t fix my grief. She simply showed up and helped me take a step forward. Looking back, that phone call marked the beginning of my journey from despair toward hope. As the years passed, I came to realize that my experience was not unique. She has touched so many lives, often arriving just when she was needed most. Each of us has our own story of how she encouraged us. Her influence on my life has taken me to places I never could have imagined. Who would have thought that a grocery store checker would one day find herself speaking to other women about grief? I still remember when Daisy asked me to write a devotional. I had to ask her, “What is a devotional?”
What began with one encouraging phone call continued to open doors I never expected. The one thing I never could have imagined from that first conversation was traveling to Africa and presenting Umbrella Ministries to two villages. That happened because Daisy believed in me and encouraged me to keep moving forward. The same steady faith that helped carry me through loss is reflected in the way Daisy lives her own life. Proverbs 31 describes Daisy well. “The Lord is in the midst of her, and she will not be moved. She trusts that God will help her when morning dawns. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instruction with kindness. There are many capable women in the world, but you surpass them all.”
And that is our Daisy. Our loving Daisy went home to be with the Lord. She brought so much joy into our lives, and we will cherish her sweet spirit forever.
– Michele
