After raising 19 children, to say Jim Bob Duggar knows a thing or two about fatherhood may be an understatement. The Duggar family patriarch took to his blog recently to pen a heartfelt open letter to fathers everywhere, in what could be seen as a subtle reference to his troubled son Josh.
In the letter, Jim Bob, 50, writes about how he and his wife, Michelle, initially only wanted “one or two children” to start their own family, but that a devastating miscarriage while Michelle was on the birth control pill caused them to rethink their plans.
“We read in the Bible that God says that children are a blessing and a reward from Him (Psalms 127:1-5),” he wrote. “We had been rejecting His gifts.”
The reality star father also noted in a postscript that fathers should set an example as a “spiritual leader and coach” within their homes.
“Start protecting your family by removing books, magazines, television, or internet that have worldly or sensual content,” he wrote. “Replace them with good things like wholesome music, biographies of great Christians, good old-fashioned family fun and games.”
Just last week, the real estate agent and three other passengers touched down in Rockford, Ill., to pay a visit to his eldest son, Josh, who checked into a rehab center there three months ago.
In August, the 27-year-old father of four decided to seek treatment after confessing to cheating on his wife of seven years, Anna, and using the cheating website Ashley Madison in order to search for extramarital affairs.
Josh also admitted to an addiction to pornography. The headline-making scandal came just months after an admission he made earlier this year, that he had molested five girls back in 2008, when he was just 14 (two of the girls were his sisters, Jessa and Jill.)
Josh’s wife, Anna, broke her silence about her husband’s scandalous behavior in an upcoming three-part TLC special, Jill and Jessa: Counting On (airing Dec. 13).
“It was heartbreaking to hear what had happened,” she said.
