Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar from the cancelled TLC show "19 Kids and Counting" are watching with fondness the blooming relationship between their daughter Jinger and her fiancé Jeremy Vuolo and have given them some advice that helped define their 32 years of marriage.
Writing on their blog, the Christian couple says Jinger and Jeremy make them "think about our own relationship and even our own wedding so many years ago. Every young couple standing at the doorway of marriage faces a future than can be so beautiful."
Jim Bob and Michelle stress that every couple must put God in the centre of their relationships. There will definitely be trials that would test spouses' love and loyalty for each other, but they say that if a man and woman have committed their lives to Jesus Christ and to each other, they already have a "solid foundation" that will see them through whatever trials that come their way.
Jim Bob and Michelle then shared six things that helped bring them closer to each other as a couple. The first of these is that they committed never to put each other down or call each other names, except words of endearment such as "sweetie" or "honey."
They also make it a point to praise each other both privately and publicly. "The words 'I love you' are spoken often in our home and we tell each other how much we appreciate the kindnesses shown to one another," they say.
Their third advice is to look for way to honour and cherish each other, and the fourth is to pray together. The fifth thing Jim Bob and Michelle stressed is to enjoy weekly date nights. "We truly are best friends and we enjoy spending time with each other and our children," they say.
Lastly, they took their wedding vows seriously, so they will always be together no matter how difficult things might be for their family. Jim Bob and Michelle are praying that Jinger and Jeremy will do the same thing.
"We are excited about Jinger and Jeremy's upcoming wedding and marriage and seeing what God does with each one of our children's and grandchildren's lives over the next few years!" they say. "When any couple seeks to follow God it is an incredible adventure!"
