When she was about 20 years old, she got married and moved to Jerusalem. They lived seven happy years together. Then Anna's husband died. Now she was very sad.
Anna got a job at the Temple where she had a lot of friends. She went to work every day and gradually became happy again.
When she was about 30 years old an army invaded Jerusalem and even went right into the Temple. Many houses were destroyed too, including Anna's.
Anna was given a room to live in at the Temple. Gradually the city returned to peace. But when she was in her 40s, the people began to be controlled by armies.
When Anna was about 50 years old, a cruel man named Herod became king over her people. She prayed for God to send them his special king to rule instead in love and peace.
There was an old man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He and Anna sometimes read the Bible together where God promised to send his peaceful king to earth. Anna was now about 60 years old.
By the time Anna was 70 years old, King Herod had gotten meaner and meaner. She and Simeon continued to pray that God would keep his promise and send his own king to rule in peace.
Most people would have decided by now God wasn't going to answer their prayers. Not Anna and Simeon. They knew God would answer their prayer when the time was best.
Now Anna was nearly 90 years old. Simeon was very old too. Then one day Simeon hobbled over to the Temple where Anna still lived to give her the wonderful news!
"He's coming! He's coming!" Simeon told Anna. "The new king of peace sent by God is coming soon! We'll see him with our own eyes!"
Sure enough. One day in walked Mary, Joseph, and little baby Jesus. But the king was just a baby. How could a baby rule? The baby had to grow up, and then he would.
When Jesus was grown, he ruled in peace, but not like other kings. He rules our hearts. He tells us to love and be at peace with others. then he is our very own personal king.
Have you been praying for something you don't think God is sending you? Maybe, if it's a toy you want, instead of looking in stores, you should look around at things in nature. God answers prayers in a more special way than we often expect.