The Parenting Years

Marriage

andFamilyLife

abiesarelovableandcute.Theyarebornwithaninnateabilitytolovetheirparents

andwillappreciatealltheirparentsdoforthem.Right?Wrong!Babiescomeintothis

worldhelplessandcompletelydependentontheirparentsforeverything.Theyhaveno

capacitytolove.Theylearntoloveornottolovethroughtheactionsof theirparents.Noone

isbornwiththeabilitytolove;lovingissomethingwhichmustbelearned.Parentingmaywell

betheonlyjobwithno“jobevaluation”foratleast18years.Thatisalongtimeforaparentto

operatewithoutasupervisororaninstructionmanual.Thinkof themistakeswhichcanbe

madeoverthecourseof 18years.

Lookaroundthenexttimeyouareinthesupermarketandyouwillseeplentyof parents

makingplentyof mistakes.Youalsowillseelotsof out-of-controlkids.Ridingthewaveof

popular“reality”TVshows,programssuchasNanny 911andBrat Campfocusondealing

without-of-controlchildren.Coulditbesocietyisonthevergeof beingoutof controlinits

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hands.

—Psalm 127:3–4 NLT

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