The world is wonderful today, Chedva thought as she climbed the streets up to the temple. The structure’s extravagant gilding shone brilliantly in the winter sun. Chedva was going to visit her aged grandmother Anna who spent nearly all her time in the temple area, worshiping and praying. The larger group of uncles, aunts, and cousins had a schedule of when to watch after Anna’s needs, but Chedva suspected that each time the visitors came away with more than they brought. Anna was a true prophet and her words were something you stored in your heart, like treasures in a treasure house. Chedva tried to remind herself that the old woman would die one day; she should appreciate her while she had her. Finding her grandmother, Chedva paused before approaching. Anna sat on the floor with her eyes closed, brows furrowed, and hands clasped in appeal. Praying, no doubt. But what about? Chedva prayed too, but she could hardly imagine a prayer that ran on for 80 years. “Granny, it’s Chedva,” she whispered in her grandmother’s ear. Anna looked up, “Oh Chedva, it’s so good to see you!” They went out to a less busy part of the courtyard to talk. Excitedly, Chedva caught Anna up on all that had happened in the past couple of weeks: new career opportunities for her fiance, progress on their upcoming wedding, and expansion for her own clothing business. Anna listened with genuine pleasure and interrupted to ask questions. She was proud of her capable, shrewd, and beautiful granddaughter. At last their conversation reached a pause and Chedva asked, “And Grandma, what about you? How have you been?” The creases on Anna’s face deepened as she laughed with joy. “Oh Chedva, the Messiah has come! God’s salvation is here! A couple brought their baby boy to be dedicated at the temple and it is him! They let me hold him, the Messiah!” Chedva looked confused and asked a furtive, indirect question about the Roman occupation. Talk of the Messiah could be dangerous. It wasn’t like that, Anna explained. Not what you might expect, not a military leader like Judah Macabee. This young boy would save his people from sin and death. God’s salvation always started with something unlikely and unexpected, just like when Samuel anointed the boy David or when God appeared to the shepherd Moses in the desert. “Not by might, nor by power. But by my spirit, says the Lord of Hosts. Don’t look down on the day of small beginnings,” Anna quoted the prophet Zechariah. Later, as Chedva walked away, she pondered on her grandmother’s words. Chedva did believe Anna was truly a prophet. Chedva had brought good news to her grandmother, but came away with much better tidings. It made her own good news pale in comparison. How would she respond? The next morning, Chedva sat next to Anna in the temple, her brows furrowed and hands clasped in appeal. ++++ Luke 2 talks about the baby boy Jesus being dedicated at the temple, and how Simeon and Anna testified by the Spirit that he was the Messiah. Here, I’m imagining what Anna’s life might have been like at the temple. The Bible says that she never left the temple courts but had spent more than 80 years worshiping and praying. She had lived with her husband for seven years before becoming a widow, during which time she may have had children. After 80 years, there would be multiple generations who would care for their old grandmother (or great-grandmother). If this is the case, what did a prophetess like Anna have to say to her grandchildren, and how would she describe the coming of the Messiah? How would they receive her news? Read other stories by following the #biblemicrofiction hashtag.