Bereft, yet Blessed: Lessons from the Life of Anna

This Christmas season, it seemed like my attention was constantly being called to Anna’s part of the Christmas story. The Bible only tells us a little about her, but what it does say gives us an interesting peek into her character and how God orchestrated events in her life to call her to a place of service.

Anna’s part in the Christmas account comes as Mary and Joseph are in the temple, performing the normal ceremonies attending the birth of a firstborn son. Simeon, led by God, comes in and rec...