I'm fascinated by an old woman named Anna. Married at around sixteen, she lived with her husband until he died eight years later. That made Anna a widow at age 24, and she stayed a widow for the rest of her life. Her son was legally responsible to take care of her, but she chose something else. She decided to live in the Jewish Temple, where she prayed, worshipped and fasted all day long. Not just one day. Every day.
When Jesus was a baby--eight days old--he was brought to the Temple to be dedicated. Anna was there, 107 years old at the time. When she saw Jesus, she recognized him as the Messiah, and she told people about it. Only a newborn, Jesus was more than a newborn to Anna. She knew what he came to do.
Anna intrigues me because of what happens after her great tragedy. She loses her husband, someone very important to her. But her life doesn't end there. She gets a whole new life, a new start. Not every orphan loses their mom or dad like Anna lost her husband. Yes, some parents die, way too young. Some parents walk away because they're way too young. Some just can't raise another kid. But, like Anna, some orphans get an opportunity for a whole new life. Their tragedy doesn't have to define them. Their new life can.
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About Me
- C.S. Heinz
- I'm the Director of Marketing for EnergyCAP, Inc., publisher of the best selling energy management software. I write on topics like prayer, discipleship, intimacy with God, family, and adoption. I like to buy books and sometimes I even read them.
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