Jim Bob Duggar protects his daughters. Jill, his 22 year old daughter, wanted to meet this young man she had been skyping with for three month. He lived in Nepal. She asked her dad if they could go and meet him. Jim Bob said, "Yes" and they both flew to Nepal.
Jim Bob would walk 20 feet behind them to give them space to get to know each other. Derrick finally asked Jim Bob if he could court Jill. Jim Bob spent time getting to know Derrick and felt he was worthy of his daughter. Derrick and Jill are now engaged to be married in June.
Another woman wrote that she met the man of her dreams. He was pure and loved Jesus. Their goal was to remain pure until marriage but they failed. Finally, her pastor questioned their purity ~
It was only during premarital counseling that our minister asked us point blank if we had had sex. Our silence was his answer. Ironically, it was his loving, but firm, response that gave us the motivation to choose differently in our relationship. It became easier to practice abstinence for the duration of our engagement because we had someone come along side us and encourage us towards the Biblical standard of purity.
We all need accountability. This is what family is for. This is what the church is for. I use to think the Duggar's strict rules for courting were too strict. However, watching the way that they do it has been eye opening to me. The couples seem happy with their boundaries of protection. There doesn't seem to be any rebellion or dissatisfaction. The oldest son, Josh, seems very happily married with three children already!
I am happy the Duggars are willing to open their lives to all of us. It gives us things to ponder and new ideas for raising our children. Their only purpose is to glorify God in all that they do and they do a very good job at it.
Daughters need fathers who protect them. Fathers who are not afraid to say that bikinis and short skirts are immodest. Fathers who are not afraid to set boundaries for their daughters and watch over them. Fathers that deeply love their daughters and give them a lot of attention and affection teaching them about God's great love for them.
If you had a father like that, thank him. If your husband is a father like that to your daughters, thank him. He is rare indeed.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
***HERE is the whole story from the woman who I quoted above.
