Thursday, May 14, 2015

Joyfulness, Purity and Enjoying Life!


What I have noticed while watching the Duggars and the Bates who both have 19 children and the Willis Family who have 12 children is how innocent and joyful they are and how much they enjoy life. None of them have a television set and all of them are homeschooled. The mothers are relaxed, happy and thoroughly enjoying their many children, loving their husbands, and are always smiling. What's up with these families?

For one thing, the children are not having to endure the bullying and being made fun of by classmates or being introduced to garbage. They are not being influenced by Hollywood to be worldly, want more and to place unrealistic expectations on others. There's nothing in their lives to steal, kill and destroy. They are not allowing the enemy of their souls to have any part of their lives. Yet, they all are able to be godly influences to all those they come in contact with.

God commands that we dwell on the good, the pure and the lovely. It is hard to do this while watching television. I tape everything I watch so I can speed through the commercials but I still see things that don't fit the category of good, pure and lovely. He commands that we walk with the wise and that bad company corrupts good morals. These families walk with the wise and are not entertained by bad company. 

Mrs. Willis says she takes so much pleasure in raising her children. She nursed them on demand, her babies slept with her and they were all happy, content babies. {We couldn't sleep with our babies. We're both way too light of sleepers. Also, if you desire to sleep with your babies, just make sure your husband is in full agreement since many are not. You can still have happy, content babies without them sleeping with you!} The Willis family eats healthy, loves to exercise, lives out in the country {which all three families do}, ride horses, sings, plays instruments, dances together and the mother teaches each child according to what they're ready to learn. They stay very busy doing productive activities.

All three families work as a team. You don't see conflict among them. They all learn to be hard workers. There is NO way you can be selfish when you are one of so many and you always have a friend to play with. 

I wish I could have seen some of these families when I was growing up. They are a great influence for other Christians since we were commanded to be fruitful and multiply. "But the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, and the land was full of them" {Exodus 1:7}. Imagine what an influence Christians would still be having in our society if Christian couples were being fruitful and increasing abundantly!

Another thing that I have noticed about all three couples is the love the wives and husbands have for each other. All the children have admitted that their parents consistently flirt with each other and love each other deeply. THIS is a formula for happy and content children! They all love Jesus and spend time daily in His Word. If your desire is to raise up children in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord and to walk in Truth, take these families as an example to follow. Praise the Lord that they are even allowed to be on TV and share their love for each other and the Lord for all to see. {Just make sure you tape the shows and speed through the commercials!}

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity EVERY thought to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5

Comments (8)

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I love to watch all three of these families and agree that their children seem very well rounded, happy, personable, talented, respectful and confident in who they are . I think the Dads being at home as much as they are makes a big difference as well. I admire their patience, sacrifice, steadfastness and diligence in raising them.
1 reply · active 515 weeks ago
It's a joy to watch happy, secure families in this day and age, Angie. That is for sure!
I love the Duggar and Bates families. I especially appreciate the example they set for young teens. It is the one show my 12 yr. old daughter and I sit down and watch together, and she loves it. I've often thought about how harshly they are judged by society for having so many children, but most people fail to see the big picture. They have a beautifully functioning, loving family. They certainly inspire me, I would love to be part of a family like that! Their children's hearts are protected from so much of the ugliness of our society that a lot of kids witness and live on a daily basis. Abusive relationships, low self esteem, pressure to fit in, bullying, drug and alcohol use, foul language, disrespect towards adults, etc. I enjoy your blog so much, thanks, Lori!
1 reply · active 515 weeks ago
Thank you, Holly. Compare these families to other reality families on TV. These families make society a better place while many of those other families and reality shows make it a worse place.
I appreciate these families too. Sometimes they almost seem perfect, although logic tells me they're not. I've been having a hard week with my daughter. I love her dearly, but there are days, even weeks sometimes where my patience seems to run short. She really isn't even doing anything wrong; she just talks and asks questions nonstop, tries to help but often makes messes on the process and it's hard to find more than a few minutes to myself as she seems attached to my hip (she's four years old). I know this sounds awful, and I feel guilt for wanting space from her. I do love her, but I feel like pulling my hair out at times and my head just aches! I feel even more guilt when I consider she's my only one and I know how busy other mothers are. I don't know... I love the Duggars, but feel discouraged at times because I know I could never be as good as a mother as she is. I hope what I feel is normal. I haven't lost my temper of anything, but yesterday I had to walk away from her and step outside for a few minutes just to clear my head. I know it hurt her feelings and I felt so bad. My husband thinks she should spend a day or two out of the month with one of her grandmothers to give me a break, but I feel guilty doing that as well. I hope nobody judges me, I just really don't know what's normal.
2 replies · active 515 weeks ago
Katie, Young women were never meant to do it alone! Michelle has her mother-in-law living with her and now all of her older daughters help her. Use your daughter's grandmothers who would LOVE to have her and your daughter would love to be with them. You don't have to be with her 24/7 to be a good mother. God calls older women to help the younger women and some of us still enjoy doing this and make time to do this.
Also Michelle openly says she wasn't always so patient with her children. I think patience takes practice and she has had the opportunity to practice a lot.
Great post! They seem pretty happy, unlike most families, and that is likely the main reason they are mocked. they're very different, and CONTENT with it. it doesn't bother them that they aren't a rich, childless/two-children family with a widescreen tv, two nice cars, etc.

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