My son Ryan had brain surgery recently. He had a malignant brain tumor removed. This was the third time. It was a difficult time for our family. His wife, his brother, and some family friends were all quietly waiting for the procedure to be over. It would be hours of waiting.

Sitting in the waiting room thinking about what was happening in the operating room was horrible. It is disconcerting to think of someone cutting through your son’s skull and digging a foreign object out of his brain. Focusing on the problem at hand made me sad and worried. But then the Lord removed my worry and fear in the most unexpected way.

My granddaughter Greta came to the hospital with my daughter-in-law. What had been a difficult and somber situation was immediately changed into joyful circumstance. She knew that Uncle Ryan had a boo boo on his head. She had even been praying for him. But since she is two, her thoughts are focused on the moment and her immediate circumstances.

She walked into the waiting room and the fun started. She is enamored with the movie “Frozen.” So she walked in quoting lines from the movie. The first thing she said to me was, “Come on Sven.” It cracked me up. My sorrow had turned to joy.

Greta proceeded to entertain for the next couple of hours. She found the Hershey’s kisses I brought and started eating one. Then she took a sip of my vanilla latte. Her response to the commingling of the wonderful flavors of chocolate and coffee, “This is amazing” (another line from “Frozen”).

My time of waiting had gone from difficult and somber to easy and cheerful in just moments. How did this happen? It was because my focus changed. I could not do anything to help Ryan by thinking about the horrific situation he was suffering through. My mind focusing on the sadness and pain was not helping. Greta’s joy changed my focus. It reminded me that I do not need to be anxious. I am a child too. I can enjoy the small things in the moment because my Father is in charge.

The Apostle Paul summed it up this way. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:4–8, ESV)

Thanks Greta for the lesson.