A few weeks ago, in my meanderings through the internet, I had caught glimpses of a couple who have given life to 19 children here in the USA. My curiosity regarding a possible connection to opposition to abortion led me to a video clip on the couple's (Michelle and Jim Bob Dugger) website showing clips of the Nazi atrocities in the Holocaust followed by interviews of ordinary American citizens of today who were demonstrably opposed to these atrocities of the Nazi era but were not currently pro-life; but after seeing the clips from the holocaust most of these people identified abortion with the killing of innocent human life as was done by the Nazis.
Several decades ago the film “Yours, Mine and Ours” starring Henry Fonda and the witty comedian Lucille Ball, played the roles of Frank and Helen who dated each other and were considering marriage when they both had to reveal their "secrets" that each had been left with 10 and 8 children respectively after their spouses had died. Following the humorous events that finally resulted in their marriage, Helen became pregnant and gave birth to the 19th child in the family.
But unlike the movie family of 18 children born of two separate couples with a 19th added later from the marriage of Frank and Helen, the Dugger family of 19 children are born of one couple, Michelle and Jim Bob Dugger. Combining the 2 large families of children under one roof is one thing but my interest was further piqued, after first seeing their video on the holocaust and being pro-life, to find out the intriguing story that brought about a brood of 19 children born of one couple.
The story of the Dugger family is not an ordinary, but an extraordinary story of love for children and faith in God that is so lacking in our American society today. Their dedication to the cause of restoring the right to life to all human beings, including the unborn, is a prominent feature of the many activities in their community work. Delving into this story has brought nothing but amazement in seeing how God works even in a society that seemingly has lost all sense of morality and which fosters the misguided concept that marriage, or any sexual union between male and female, need not result in any children at all, or no more than one or two children, using contraception and ultimately abortion to ensure this goal is met.
The Dugger family, first accepted the wisdom of the world to control the births of their children with "the pill" so that a child is brought upon the scene at the right time, and with the wherewithal to take care of the child. However, through the miscarriage of their 2nd child (which can be brought about when using the birth control pill), their faith and trust in God directed them to allow God to provide them with the gift of a child as well as the provisions to take care of them. Their story is one of true faith in God for Whom nothing is impossible.
Here are the words of Michelle: A Message to Mothers from Michelle
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It was 1:00 AM in the morning as I stood folding laundry with tears streaming down my cheeks. Feelings of being overwhelmed flooded my mind. I cried aloud, "LORD I NEED YOUR HELP, I can't do it all! I feel so inadequate! Diapers, dishes, laundry, meals, cleanup, school lessons, baths, hugs, kisses, correction..." My list seemed to go on and on. Then it was as if a still small voice said, "Michelle, it's easy to praise ME when things are going good, but are you willing to praise ME now?" Immediately the scripture that says, "Offer up a sacrifice of praise", came to mind.
I said, "OK Lord, I will praise you even now! It really is a sacrifice!" So through the tears I began to sing, "The joy of the Lord is my strength". In my heart there was a release as if a burden had been lifted. I finished the laundry at 2 AM and went to bed.
Days later, I was at our piano teacher's home (at 7 AM) trying to catch up on paperwork while the children were taking their lessons. Instead, I kept drifting off to sleep! The teacher noticed and asked, "Are you OK?" I replied, "I'm fine, I'm just tired. I was up late finishing laundry."As we talked more she said that she actually enjoyed doing laundry and that she would be glad to come and help me! That weekend when she arrived we had mountains of dirty laundry, and when she left we had nice, neat, orderly stacks of clean laundry! For 12 years now, our piano teacher, whom we consider a part of our family and loving call "NaNa" has faithfully come (now twice a week) to help us with laundry! GOD sent "An angel" in answer to my cry for help.
He is faithful to hear the humble cries of his children. "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." God lifted my burden (literally mountains of laundry!) and freed me to meet the more urgent needs of my family. "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory..."
Remember mothers, where God guides He provides!
With Love,
Michelle
Proverbs 3:5-7
http://www.duggarfamily.com/content/news
An interview of the Dugger Family by the 700 Club before the miscarriage of their 20th child.
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