36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Devotion to God is not something only men do. Here is Anna, a very godly woman. When her husband died it seems she dedicated her life to service of the Lord. She spent her time worshipping. We know that she spent a lot of time worshipping. We know she fasted and prayed. Perhaps she helped out the priests whose job it was to offer the sacrifices. Maybe she helped keep the Temple clean. Many people came to the Temple daily, so maybe she helped greet people. We just don’t know all she did. We do know she was there at the Temple. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is be there. I know from working with people who are grieving, that the most important thing we can do is just be there with them. They don’t want answers. They don’t even want advice. They just want someone to be there with them in their pain and loneliness. When you are sick, do you want a bunch of people showing up needing to be entertained? No! You just want a bowl of soup and some quiet time. Anna was there in the Temple. That is why she is mentioned in the Scriptures. Simeon has just blessed Jesus as His parents have brought him for a cleansing ritual. She might have heard the words Simeon was speaking over Jesus and His parents. Then she approaches this couple. If she had not been there she would have missed out! Sometimes we just need to be there. I imagine there were many days when nothing exciting happened. She could have gotten discouraged, but she kept coming. She was there. And being there brought a great blessing into her life. Are you there consistently?
The Arnold Journey 