As I continue reading about the Duggar family I am continually amazed at how they live their lives and how they teach they faith to the children. Some may hear about them and think they are a bunch of weirdos, but I say give me weird over worldly any day!!!! I need you to process that this family lives totally debt free and live quite well. What an amazing testimony to praying and seeking God's will for your life. They have convictions, they stick to them, and God honors their endeavors. Wow! Lately,as my husband and I struggle within our own family (and right now we are "struggling" with a hormonal 13 year old who is very impulsive and an 11 year old hormonal autistic son), we have regrets that we did not have a bigger family. He had a vasectomy right after our son was born - our kids are 17 months apart and he didn't want to take any chances. That is a discission we have come to hugely regret. Then 4 years ago I had to have a complete hysterectomy. We have talked of adopting on several occasions and continue to pray about it. When I look at large families as a whole, the kids are always well behaved and they all seem to get along so well. That is very appealing to me right now. And when I look at this family in particular, they are such servants to each other and they have such a love for the Lord and their family.
One of the things that stands out to me about the Duggar family is their chapter on "Training and Correcting Little Ones." They begin the chapter with this verse, "Train up a child in the way he should go;and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6. One of the materials they use in teaching their children is by Bill Gothard, "Operational Definitions of Character Qualities." The first and most important character trait they learn is obedience. In teaching obedience,they focus on why obedience is important. If they learn to obey their parent's voice, they will also learn to obey God's voice. Some day they will here His still, small voice in their heart, and they will know to obey Him. They'll know what's the right thing to do. Isn't that what we ALL want for our kids? I know that is my heart's prayer every single day no matter what else I am praying for - that is a constant!!! - For my kids to realize their need for a Savior and for the Holy Spirit to draw them to Him. Brutal!!! Their goal is to have them understand four different points of obedience: 1. instant 2. cheerful 3.thorough 4. unconditional. Wouldn't the Lord love the same from us adults??
They also have a neat way of doing chores. Their chores are called "Jurisdictions." They do this to stress the idea that these jobs are not just tasks to complete but areas of their family's home and their life together that each child is responsible for. (They use Steve and Teri Maxwell's Managers of Their Home and Managers of Their Chore wall system.)
Another lesson they teach is being content. They teach their kids to be content with the food and clothing they have, using the possessions they have and keeping their focus on the purpose for which God made them. How profound!!!! I'll finish up this chapter in my next post.
WOW ! WOW ! and WOW! Even though my kids is grown it would stil be good to read for when I have grandkids.Umm when ever that will be lol.
ReplyDeleteI can relate about not having more kids, Joey and i hum hollered around and when we decieded to have more,I found I had a tumor that was so large, I had to have a complete hysterectomy,, however you spell that,aha.I know the pain and disappointment that goes with that and even feeling youreally cant describe.
Good post girl!
oops not KIDS ,, KID,, one KID,, lol I only have one KID.
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