ANNA

Anna was in my life for only seven days. Upon returning to my office one Thursday I had a voicemail from the bookkeeper stating that we had a new student named Anna and I needed to talk to her. I knew right then that Anna was no ordinary child.

In short, Anna had been thrown in the trash at birth because her mother had already had four daughters and didn’t care for another. Her mother called her brother-in-law and told him what she had done and he and his wife came and got the child. Some six years later he killed his wife right in front of Anna thus beginning Anna’s shuffling from one abusive home to the next. Some of her family were gang members and she became one before she was a teenager. She told me she loved school and has always loved to read but has kept this a secret. Anna came to North Carolina with an older cousin. Anna was 12 and her cousin and his wife were 19 and 20, neither ready to parent. Things got rough and Anna became a runaway. The only charge against her was “breaking and entering” because she broke into an abandoned house to find a place to sleep for the night.

Oh, she admitted to me that she had done her share of wrong doings but now she sat before me 15 and pregnant with her “little seed” she called her baby and she wanted a better life though she was sore afraid. Her cousin’s wife had admitted her to a maternity home and she said, “I have nothing, not even shampoo to wash my hair but I want to keep my little seed.” I was trying my best to be so strong for Anna (she reminded me so much of my younger years) but inside the vision inside me took on a groaning that could not be uttered. I shared part of my testimony to give her hope and we began to make an action plan for her life.

A few days later, I received an unexpected visit from the local director of the maternity home. She said she was told that Anna had been talking to me and might have told me some things about the maternity home that might have been untrue and she wanted to tell their side. Right away I knew to be cautious. She didn’t tell me what was said to her or who said it and so I gave her no information. She did tell me that Anna would not receive any academic credit for being in school and she would not be here after she has the baby. The next morning I received a call from Anna’s court counselor stating that the maternity home had contacted her and said she had to come and get Anna because the maternity home was afraid that Anna might have told me something that would get them closed down. The court counselor pleaded Anna’s case but the next day she was gone. She went just as fast as she came.

This project is dedicated to Anna and to all the “little seeds” in the world who need a HOPE and a FUTURE.

Anna means “Favor” or “Grace.” (Luke 2: 25-38)

Anna, was a prophetess, indicating that the spirit of prophecy had now began to revive which had ceased in Israel about three hundred years. She was of the tribe of Asher, which was in Galilee. Anna had an enormous spiritual appetite and served God with fastings and prayers night and day in the temple. She was a widow of about fourscore and four years (84 years) and she had been in the temple since her husband had died seven years from her virginity. Some Biblical scholars believe she was one who had understanding in the scriptures above other women and made it her business to instruct the younger women in the things of God. Her reward for her faithfulness was that she came in the instant Simeon took Jesus in his arms and discoursed over Him when his parents presented him in the temple on the 40th day of his birth. Anna herself gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.