2/6/21

 

The Prophetess Anna

                There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38

            What a life Anna must have had.  Married for seven years and then a widow for over sixty years, in a time and place where the average life expectancy was only 30-35, she was likely one of only a handful of her age left in Israel as she served the successive six generations in the temple.  Full of vitality and a deep connection to the Lord, she was filled with hope and joy when she saw the baby Jesus and told all who would listen about the gift of God that had been given.

            I have known a couple of women like Anna.  They are grandmothers who know and love God, full of compassion and wisdom and hope and kind words of encouragement for the dark days of parenting.  I have another friend who refers to them as women of “Big Hair and Prayer.” They have lived through the ups and downs of life and found Jesus to be the rock that they can stand on.  Sometimes they are married, often they are widowed and have children who are distant.  They live in the comfort and assurance of God’s love for them and can be a little…eccentric as they have one ear listening to people and one ear attuned to God. 

            It would be the easiest thing in the world to not interact with Annas, especially for young parents of challenging children.  There is a generation gap.  There seems to be little in common that could be talked about.  Our kids do not make adult relationships easy, so adding another one that is closer to our grandparents does not make a lot of sense.  Their politics and their music of choice and their worship services will be different.  All that being said, they are treasures and if you can find one or two to befriend, I strongly encourage you to do it.  We first found our son’s diagnosis through an Anna and she has been a support and encouragement throughout our entire parenting journey.  Annas do not need to dominate conversations or need you to perform in certain ways.  There is a peace and a compassion and a certainty that they live in that has been forged through decades of reliance on Jesus.  They will celebrate your progress with your children and sit with you in the hard times all while pointing you to find God’s hand in everything.

             Our kids have a special fondness and relationship with Grandma Pastor Heather even though they only see her every few years.  But I know that she holds us up in prayer all the time and God holds her, and those prayers, close to His heart.

A moment to reflect:

If you have an Anna in your life, treasure her while you can.  If you do not, ask God to send her.  She is worth the effort.