Perfect Parenting (or rather) Avoiding the Mistakes of Parenthood

(The following is a continuation of my views on msn.com’s story on “10 Big Mistakes Parents Make”.)

8) Not teaching kids to fend for themselves: My papaw would say the old line, “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” I think this holds true for our children. For me, this goes back to items 3 and 5 on this list. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is described as the carpenter’s son. The gospel of Mark goes on to describe Jesus as a carpenter, presumably one who had followed Joseph into the trade. Jesus certainly was given a loving earthly father who, like generations before, gave their sons the gift of a trade or knowledge. I picture little Jesus in the shop, learning year after year how to build. I picture Joseph smiling as he envisions his son being able to enjoy life because of his trade and experience.

Take a moment to consider your relationship with your Father in heaven, with you as His child, and then your relationship (as a parent) with your own beloved children. (Watch for the rest of this list to be updated daily.)