Josh Duggar has stayed out the spotlight since news of his molestation scandal broke last month, but on Sunday, June 21, he made a rare exception to record a video message for his dad, Jim Bob Duggar, in honor of Father’s Day. Several of Josh’s siblings, including sisters Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald, also taped greetings for the 19 Kids and Counting patriarch — but Josh’s was by far the longest.
Standing beside his pregnant wife, Anna Duggar, Josh began by recalling some of his earliest memories with Jim Bob, who has 18 other children with wife Michelle.
“I can remember as a little boy, riding in the tow truck with you and spending all those hours together,” the 27-year-old Arkansas native shared. “And then as I grew up a little bit, we were at the car lot together, and I can remember learning how to do business deals and fill out the paperwork and all those things. And then later on we built a house together, and we spent three and a half years learning about construction and all the joys and sorrows of all that.”
Josh — who has three (soon to be four) kids of his own — then went on to thank his dad for supporting him and seeing him through the more difficult times in his life, no doubt including the family’s current crisis.
“I can also just think of all the moments where you’ve been there for us through the hard times and through the good times, and I know that your investment in each one of our lives is priceless, and we’re so grateful for you,” he said. “And I’m grateful that you are the grandpa to our [kids], your grandkids, and we’re just so grateful for your investment in our life. Happy Father’s Day.”
Anna, 26, added her own message at the end before planting a kiss on Josh’s lips. “Thank you for raising such an awesome husband,” she gushed.
Josh’s video was uploaded to the family’s website on June 21, along with shorter videos from Jackson, James, Johannah, Jason, Jed, Jessa, and Jill, the latter two of whom recorded with their husbands, Ben Seewald and Derick Dillard, respectively.
Jim Bob’s wife, Michelle, also wrote a blog post about the father of 19, detailing five ways in which he demonstrates his love to their kids. No. 1 on her list was “He loves his children by having a learning spirit…and desiring to become the best dad that he can be!”
“When he lacks wisdom in what to do, he goes to the best Father for advice, our Heavenly Father,” she wrote. “He asks God to give him an understanding heart toward each of his children, because he truly wants to know where they are coming from and to lead them in the way that they should go.”
When they take a wrong turn somewhere, he tries to get them back on track — which is No. 3 on Michelle’s list. “He loves his children by restraining their sinful behavior…by teaching them that true freedom is doing what is right before God regardless of what others, or even their own flesh may want to do!” she wrote.
“He does not ignore offenses, nor does he eliminate the penalty or consequence for their offenses,” she continued. “He teaches his children that God loves them so much, that He will chasten them if they continue to behave in a sinful way, and so will their Daddy.”
She concluded the post on a lighter note, noting that he “enjoys having fun with his kids” (No. 5) and praising his dedication to their family. “Jim Bob is not a perfect Dad but he is a GREAT dad!” she wrote. “Happy Father’s Day 2015 from your children who love and admire you and who are so very grateful for such a LOVING Daddy. I love you Jim Bob and I’m so honored to be your wife.”
Watch Josh, Jill, and Jessa’s videos above, and read Michelle’s full blog here.
