What we can be thankful for.

As they were in the temple with Simeon, Mary and Joseph met another one who had been waiting for years for this moment.

Luke 2:36-38 [ Anna the prophetess was also there, She was by now a very old women. She had been married seven years, and a widow for 84. She never left the temple area, worshiping night and day with her fasting and prayers.

At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.]

Anna becomes the more important character in the cast of characters. She was married at a young age, we can assume since her husband passed away after seven years. (which is a biblical number)

Then it says she was a widow for 84 years so like Simeon she was very old.

She had waited patiently for the messiah to come.  Week after week,.

The patience and trust it took for her to wait and know and believe.

Every time a young couple would come with their baby she would wonder. Is this the one? When she saw Simeon and his reaction she KNEW.

How exciting and how final for her. Did that mean she could leave the temple? we are not told that. All we know is God orchestrated each character to tell the story.

A baby would be born in and HE would be the Messiah. Luke 2:19