My family moved into a new apartment house tow and a half years ago. Since then, I have been hearing the shower sound in the morning as well as in the afternoon from the next door. I have been wondering why my neighbors (an old couple with their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter) are always taking showers several times a day. But later Ifound out that they have been playing mahjong day and night. They certainly enjoy their life having fun together.

As we read Luke 2:36-40, Anna was a prophetess and a widow at the age of 84. She had been staying in the Temple since her husband died when they got married seven years later. What did she do in the Temple? The Bible tells us,  “She stayed in the Temple day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.” Some Bible translation says that Anna had been a widow for  84 years and then staying in the Temple. It is, however, apparent that she had been in the presence of God for at least six decades. She kept worshiping and praying and fasting before the Lord day in and day out. Until one day, she saw Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus come to the Temple. She then “talked about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Anna obviously did nothing deserving praise or compliments from this world. But because of her faithfulness — praise and worship before  God, she saw God’s promised King. I guess that my neighbors have retired from work. I don’t know what they expect from the rest of their life. How about me? How am I going to make use of the rest of my life, like Anna or my neighbors? I believe I know the answer.