I cannot imagine giving up a child, whom I could only see once a year; but this amazing woman, Hannah, who was childless for so long, is living that life. She prayed tearfully for a child, then vowed to give him to the Lord’s service, if only God would bless her with motherhood.
After Samuel was born, Hannah fulfilled her promise. When he had been weaned, she brought her son (her only child) to the temple and turned him over to the prophet Eli. In the above passage we see Hannah on her annual family pilgrimage, making sacrifices to God and to see her beloved boy.
Hannah’s sacrifice of love is immeasurable—not only in the way she provides new coats for a growing child, but through her complete trust in God for her whole life. Hannah trusted God with her tears, with her prayers, with provision for her family, with her sacrifice. As she left her young boy to serve God, we do not see her reduced to tears; instead, she utters praise in the form of song:
There is no one holy like the Lord;
There is no one besides you;
There is no Rock like our God.
(1 Samuel 2:2)
Her faith becomes a tangible example for her son to emulate, for her family to be blessed—and for us to follow.