A year or two ago, I was giving a retreat to a group of senior school students. As it was a lovely bright July day, it was only natural that our discussion should turn to the beauties of creation in the countryside around.

Many of the youngsters talked about how they found God in nature, and how refreshing it was to go for a quiet walk in the country, listening to the birds or just soaking in the scenery.

We began eventually to talk about the different kinds of flowers, and how each one had its own beauty. We discovered that each of us had a favorite flower. Most people chose the rose; others preferred the carnation or the lily; someone else liked the orchid, another, the poinsettia, and so on.

There was some consternation and amusement in the group when I said that my own favorite flower was the yellow daisy. "The daisy?" someone said with a grin. "That's hardly a flower at all - more like a weed." "And a nuisance too," someone else added, "When you have to do some weeding you find it sprouting every second day." I'm afraid the poor little daisy got short shrift from the rest of the group too, and my taste in flowers was dismissed as abysmal.

Later in the day when we gathered together, however, I found that opinions about the humble daisy had changed. Most of the group had gone outside, and had stooped to look closely at the daisies that were growing everywhere at that time of the year. And yes, they all had to admit - with reluctance - that there was something beautiful about the daisy after all, with its perfectly formed bright yellow centre surrounded by delicate yellow petals and hardy stalks.

"I suppose we don't appreciate the daisy because it's too common," one of the boys suggested. "And because it's free," added one of his companions. This comment set all the heads in the group nodding, and an enthusiastic discussion followed about how easily we value the things that cost the world, and take for granted all the good things that are given to us for nothing; like the humble daisy.

I remember, later that evening when I was by myself, thinking over that discussion, and calling to mind all the 'daisies' in my life: those priceless gifts that have come my way freely, and which I so easily take for granted. I thought of the mysterious gift of life itself, and of the good health I have enjoyed. I thought of my parents and family, the neighbors and friends I have known and my many teachers. I thought of the gift of faith, and the privilege of being called to serve God's people. And I felt a surge of wonder and gratitude within, and - perhaps for the first time in my life - I said a truly heartfelt 'thank you' to God.

God bless you.

In Mary Help of Christians,

I remain,

Fr. Jim McKenna SDB