These past 27 years, I have witnessed Jim Bob Duggar demonstrate love to his children in many ways!

 Today, I share five with you as we celebrate this Father’s Day.

 1. HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN BY HAVING A LEARNING SPIRIT

 …and desiring to become the best dad that he can be!

 When he lacks wisdom in what to do, he goes to the best Father for advice, our Heavenly Father.

 James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 He asks God to give him an understanding heart toward each of his children, because he truly wants to know where they are coming from and to lead them in the way that they should go.

 He also seeks counsel from those who are wise and who are further down the parenting road than he is.

 There is wisdom and advice to be gained from many wise counselors.

 That’s why he listens to great messages and talks with other dads.

 He not only learns from their successes but also from their sorrow over past failures.

To see and understand the consequences of others mistakes helps him to avoid the same pitfalls.

 Proverbs 11:14

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

 When he fails, by making a bad judgement or by responding in anger, he quickly humbles himself before God and his family and asks for forgiveness.

 He has learned that before honor comes humility.

 This is one reason why his children love and admire him so much!

 2. HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN BY WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR NEEDS

 …and he makes preparation for their future.

 1 Timothy 5:8

 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

 He has worked many jobs, some simultaneously, just to make ends meet!

He knows that by training and teaching his children to work hard he can instill a good work ethic in them.

Many times it would be easier for him to do the work himself but instead of taking the easy route, his work training motto is, “Come along side me while I work, I love spending time with you and I want you to learn this important life skill right along with me!”

He has said for years, “My hobby is spending time with my wife and children.” Much of this time has been learning to do important life skills together as a family, for example when he decided to build our own house together!

He is willing to help his children in anyway that he can but he is careful not to enable them.

3. HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN BY RESTRAINING THEIR SINFUL BEHAVIOR

 …by teaching them that true freedom is doing what is right before God regardless of what others, or even their own flesh may want to do!

He has taught his children that freedom is not the right to do what you want but the power to do what you ought.

He does not ignore offenses, nor does he eliminate the penalty or consequence for their offenses.

He teaches his children that God loves them so much, that He will chasten them if they continue to behave in a sinful way, and so will their Daddy.

Hebrews 12:7-11

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

4. HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN BY BEING THEIR SPIRITUAL SERVANT/LEADER

 …as he leads them by his example, knowing that his personal relationship with God is his greatest priority in life.

 1 Corinthians 11:1

 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

 By demonstrating love and respect for his wife he shows his children that he cherishes her and he expects them to follow his example and honor their mother as well.

By asking his children, “How can I pray for you?” They know they have a safe place to share their heart and that their Daddy is ready and willing to pray with them and for them, day or night.

He believes that each of his children are a gift, given to him, from God, and he treats them with respect.

As they walk through good and bad days they know that their Dad finds great joy in them and it is an honor for him to help and encourage them.

 He realizes that whoever praises his children will have their hearts.

 He has won the hearts of his children because he looks for opportunities to praise their good character on a regular basis.

Proverbs 17:6

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of

children are their fathers.

 5. HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN BECAUSE HE ENJOYS HAVING FUN WITH HIS KIDS

 …by making special memories with them!

 Even after a long days work, he plays with his kids!

 He laughs and cuts up with them. He loves spending time with his kids riding bikes, playing broom ball, camping, traveling, or doing something that is of interest to each of them, individually.

 When some of our daughters wanted to obtain medical skills, Dad encouraged them to follow their dream. They enrolled in a first responders course, obtained the certification and have served on our local volunteer fire department and have gone on to gain midwifery and doula training.

When one of our sons wanted to learn about flying he spent hours helping that son research about flying and obtain the training that he needed, now that son has reached his goal and is a pilot.

He often sets aside his own plans to be available for his children and he does this willingly with joy not making them feel that they are an “interruption” in his life, but his children know that they are the joy of his life.

Jesus said the greatest among you will be the servant.

Jim Bob is not a perfect Dad but he is a GREAT dad!

Happy Fathers Day 2015 from your children who love and admire you and who are so very grateful for such a LOVING Daddy

I love you Jim Bob and I’m so honored to be your wife!

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