Parenting Advice & Practical Tips
From Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar
A Message To Mothers From Michelle
It was 1:00 AM in the morning as I stood folding laundry with tears streaming down my cheeks. Feelings of being overwhelmed flooded my mind. I cried aloud, "LORD I NEED YOUR HELP, I can't do it all! I feel so inadequate! Diapers, dishes, laundry, meals, cleanup, school lessons, baths, hugs, kisses, correction..." My list seemed to go on and on.
Then it was as if a still small voice said, "Michelle, it's easy to praise ME when things are going good, but are you willing to praise ME now?" Immediately the scripture that says, "Offer up a sacrifice of praise", came to mind.
I said, "OK Lord, I will praise you even now! It really is a sacrifice!" So through the tears I began to sing, "The joy of the Lord is my strength". In my heart there was a release as if a burden had been lifted. I finished the laundry at 2 AM and went to bed.
Days later, I was at our piano teacher's home (at 7 AM) trying to catch up on paperwork while the children were taking their lessons. Instead, I kept drifting off to sleep! The teacher noticed and asked, "Are you OK?" I replied, "I'm fine, I'm just tired. I was up late finishing laundry."
As we talked more she said that she actually enjoyed doing laundry and that she would be glad to come and help me! That weekend when she arrived we had mountains of dirty laundry, and when she left we had nice, neat, orderly stacks of clean laundry! For 12 years now, our piano teacher, whom we consider a part of our family and loving call "NaNa" has faithfully come (now twice a week) to help us with laundry! GOD sent "An angel" in answer to my cry for help.
He is faithful to hear the humble cries of his children. "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." God lifted my burden (literally mountains of laundry!) and freed me to meet the more urgent needs of my family. "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory..."
Remember mothers, where God guides He provides!
With Love,
Michelle
Proverbs 3:5-7
A Message to Fathers From Jim Bob
When Michelle and I first married, we thought we might have one or two children. Four years into to marriage, we had our first child. After that, Michelle went back on the birth control pill. She ended up getting pregnant while on the pill and had a miscarriage.
We were so grieved. We did not know that sometimes the pill allows you to get pregnant but then causes a miscarriage. We thought we could set our own timetable for having children, for example- when we were "financially able," or when we "had all our ducks in a row."
We read in the Bible that God says that children are a blessing and a reward from Him (Psalms 127:1-5). We had been rejecting His gifts. At that point, we prayed and asked God to forgive us and we gave Him this area of our lives. We said, "Lord, help us to love children the way that you love children, and Lord we want to receive each one as a gift from you."
At the same time we made this commitment, we attended a Financial Freedom Seminar conducted by Jim Sammons. Mr. Sammons challenged us from God's Word in Romans 13:8 to "owe no man anything but love." So we purposed to get out of debt and stay out of debt. We have seen God do miracles, as He has multiplied our children, He has multiplied our provisions and met our needs every step of the way.
May God bless you as you follow His Spirit and purpose to give Him every area of your life.
Sincerely,
Jim Bob Duggar
P.S. A great way to start being the spiritual leader and coach of your
home is to ask Jesus to forgive you for the things you have done wrong
(1 John 1:9) and ask Him to take over the steering wheel of your life.
(Ask your wife and children for forgiveness also.) God has promised
He will freely give the ability to make wise decisions to anyone who
asks and seeks Him (James 1:5). Purpose to read the chapter of Proverbs
that corresponds to the day of the month with your family daily. Also,
commit to pray with your wife everyday. Start protecting your family
by removing books, magazines, television, or internet that have worldly
or sensual content. Replace them with good things like wholesome music,
biographies of great Christians, good old-fashioned family fun and
games. Love God with your whole heart and look for opportunities to
serve others as a family and tell others about our Saviour.