Job had ten children who loved to party. And these parties last for days! There's lots of eating and drinking!
Job 1:5 says, "And when the days of their feasting were over, Job sent for them to purify and hallow them, and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, 'It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed or disowned God in their hearts.' Thus did Job at all such times."
For one thing, Job didn't keep his children from meeting each other during their birthdays and having some fun. So, he wasn't so strict. And we all know how Job's children ended up. They all died in a weather tragedy. Seriously, though, let's be like Job.
There's also this modern notion nowadays that I've read about and I found, myself, a bit attractive. It's not imposing your religious beliefs on your children, but allowing them to get to know God on their own. Remember, religion kills. It's a relationship with God that we need.
Dana and I were strolling one night at Barasoain, where there is a Santo Nino Museum. There were electric candles and flowers and lots of people taking selfies with the saints. Dana said, "Look, baby boy dolls!" It occurred to me that she did not have any Catholic influence, no superstition at all that these little statues held power to bless your business or keep away the aswang.
But it may also mean she's free to choose not to believe God. In truth, she is, really, free to choose God or not. But what I learn from Job is that as Dana's dad, I can pray for her, asking God to purify and hallow her. The burnt offerings part has been taken cared of for eternity by the Messiah's death on the cross. So I can continue to pray to God for Dana, always lifting her up to our Holy Daddy, praying that she chooses Jesus out of her own volition.
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