Nothing is more stressful than having an unexpected health scare with your child. Exactly three days after sharing with others how to replace anxiety with gratitude (read more about that here), God allowed a circumstance in my life to practice just that.

It was 9 pm on Monday night. We had just finished eating a late dinner after youth ice hockey practice when Lukas grabbed his chest, in tears, complaining that his heart was racing. After lying down and taking deep breaths, his heart rate returned to normal only to jump back up a few minutes later. I immediately called Jon, who was away on a business trip, and we agreed it was time to pile everyone into the car for a late-night trip to the ER.

After an EKG and full examination by the doctor, we were discharged with a referral to a pediatric cardiologist. We drove home at 3 am with more questions than answers.

Over the following two weeks we explored numerous possibilities of why Lukas’ heart rate had escalated, including that he may be experiencing panic attacks or that anxiety may be exacerbating an already tenuous heart condition.

One of the many doctors we saw taught me how to help a child calm a racing heart – whether caused by a panic attack or anything else. She explained that asking a child to focus on the five senses keeps attention on tangible things and away from a racing heart. When Lukas’ heart rate begins to escalate, I should encourage him to take deep breaths and ask him to name something he can see, something he can hear, and something he can smell.

It was during one of his episodes the Lord reminded me of my own words from three days earlier, “You cannot be grateful and anxious at the same time.”

So, while my baby laid on our living room couch, heart rate climbing, trying to take long, deep breaths, I asked him to name something he could see, hear, and smell. Then I asked him to name something he was thankful for, to which he answered, “You, Mommy.” I gave him a huge hug as we watched his heart rate return to normal.

I can happily say that after weeks of uncertainty and numerous doctor’s visits, Lukas has been given a clean bill of health. His doctors agree that his elevated heart rate was caused by severe dehydration and contracting an unknown virus at the same time.

Those two weeks of waiting were some of the longest days of my life. It was alarming how easily and quickly my mind jumped to worse case scenarios, weaving together all the horrible possibilities of what might become reality.

During those moments when the fear of uncertainty dominated my thoughts, I clung to Jesus. I meditated on Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” I told Jesus what I needed while thanking Him for Lukas’ health thus far. I thanked Him that the situation wasn’t worse, and I thanked Him for all the friends and family supporting and praying for us.

I wish I could say that every moment during this time was full of peace. It wasn’t. I can say that when I reminded myself that Jesus was in control, that He knew exactly what was happening, and that He was working for Lukas’ good and my good. I experienced His calming peace.