What makes a good parent?

After listening to a friend talk tonight about some issues that she's having with her daughter, I am at a loss. She's an amazing parent with a big heart and she (and her husband) do their best to give their kids the things that they want and the opportunities that will help them be well-rounded. The situations that she's dealing with are mind-boggling to me and it's nothing that she could have foreseen and certainly didn't cause. Her daughter's choices are responsible for what she's doing and yet the parents are having to cope with what to do and how to handle it.
In talking with her, I wondered what it is that makes a good parent. There are certain qualities that I look for in my parental advice-givers. I have three main advice-givers in terms of parenting, all of which have three or more children (one of my pre-requisites because of the amount of children I have). All three are amazing Christian women and their children are grown (in fact all three have grandchildren). One of these women is Dan's Aunt Sue who has five children (all grown) and grandchildren and who never fails to give it to me straight in the most loving, kind and wonderful way. One of these women is my "adopted mom", "Mama B" who has three girls (all grown) and grandchildren and who is endlessly encouraging, uplifting, and honest with me. The last (but not least) of these women is my Grandma Lee who had four kids in four years and who has the most gentle, humble, beautiful spirit that a person could ever have. All of these women are the people in my life who I turn to for parenting advice, encouragement, and understanding. They were not without obstacles in their parenting experiences and they didn't always agree with their kids' decisions but they supported them and loved them through things. So what makes a good parent? All kids are different and they're all going to make their own choices but what makes someone's parenting really matter in the end....
Thus far, I have only a few things. I know that a God-centered household makes a difference. I know that a household that focuses on God first, family second, and then the outside world really helps the kids to get closer to God and make better decisions. It's no guarantee that mistakes won't be made and it's DEFINITELY not a warranty for no problems at all but I do believe that it makes a difference.
A second thing is time together. I think this breaks down into one on one time and family time as well. I think that it's important to have traditions (whatever they are) within your own family. I think it's important for kids to learn to work together as a team and that the family is a unit, a binding unit that protects and loves each other no matter what.
The final thing I know for sure is individuality and encouraging their gifts. I think that helping them find their individual gifts and talents makes the difference. I think it gives them confidence and that it encourages them to be courageous, use their assets and learn that there is more to life than fitting into a crowd.
Ultimately there's no telling what makes a great parent because every child is different and, thus, every parent is different. Maybe the only way to tell is by time and seeing how the children turn out. Maybe it's time and seeing how their relationships are in the long run. What makes a good parent?