When Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar from 19 Kids and Counting first got married, they did not think that they would be raising a huge family, and actually thought of giving birth to maybe one or two children. But God had a very special plan for the Duggar family, although the couple had to learn things the hard way.
Jim Bob shared in the Duggar Family website that Michelle gave birth to their first child four years into their marriage. After that, she went back to taking birth control pills. However, Jim Bob and Michelle were surprised that she managed to get pregnant even while she was taking pills, and because of that, she had a miscarriage.
"We were so grieved," recalled Jim Bob. "We did not know that sometimes the pill allows you to get pregnant but then causes a miscarriage."
The reality show patriarch said that they actually planned on having more children when they were more "financially able," or when they finally "had all our ducks in a row." But they realised that that was not how God wanted things to be.
"We read in the Bible that God says that children are a blessing and a reward from Him (Psalms 127:1-5). We had been rejecting His gifts," he said.
At that point, they prayed and asked God for forgiveness. Jim Bob and Michelle prayed, "Lord, help us to love children the way that you love children, and Lord we want to receive each one as a gift from you."
After that, Jim Bob and Michelle happily accepted all the children God decided to bless them with. Jim Bob also considers it a huge responsibility to become good Christian parents, so he stressed that fathers need to step up and be good spiritual leaders in their own homes. He also suggested that husbands pray with their wives everyday in order to build a stronger relationship that is centered around God.
"Love God with your whole heart and look for opportunities to serve others as a family and tell others about our Saviour," he said.
