The Day Shift and the Night Shift
Ray and I spent yesterday Christmas shopping. In a Christian bookstore, I found a nice reusable sticker book about the birth of Jesus. I was impressed with the quality. The background scenes for the stickers were great. The book included Nazareth, the road between Nazareth and Bethlehem, Bethlehem, and the hometown of the magi–but still no Simeon or Anna!
At the very moment that godly Simeon finished speaking about baby Jesus at the Temple, the prophetess Anna came up and began thanking God.
Anna was eighty-four years old. At some point in the past, she had been married, but her husband had died only seven years after they married. Our 100-year-old friend Miss Joy, whom I have told you about several times, has had a similar situation. She married in her late 20s. Her marriage also lasted a short time. Her sons were about five and three when her husband died of a congenital heart condition.
Anna’s purpose was to serve. She never left the Temple. She fasted and prayed there night and day.
God has called every mother to serve in a capacity that she never leaves, one that requires working night and day.
Anna was faithful in her role and so are you.
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
Proverbs 31:18