I have been following the Josh Duggar scandal. Here are my thoughts:
For a time, I enjoyed watching the Duggar (19 Kids and Counting) reality show since unlike other reality TV shows, there was no arguing. They just seemed like a very happy family and I enjoyed seeing how everyone liked being together.
I admit, at first, I very much enjoyed watching the Duggar family on reality TV. It was fun to watch them go grocery shopping, organize clothes, eat together, play together, shop together, or even watch them do laundry! I was fascinated that their house was so clean and that smiles and hugs were present.
I think I may have wished at times too that I'd been able to have more children. Or...maybe because I unschooled-homeschooled my children, that I liked seeing the Duggar family being there for one another and how much they valued their time together.
The Duggar's life reminded me of my life before my husband got hurt in 2005. We jumped from one adventure to another, like Peter Pan did in Neverland. Life for the Duggars, like Auntie Mame said in the Broadway musical, Mame, was "a banquet." The Duggar's showed that a happy family life was so important and was what mattered.
I stopped watching the show in time. Maybe I stopped watching because of the feeling that that the Duggar's religious beliefs were better than others, or maybe I just stopped watching because the show became repetitive or boring, or maybe I just was no longer interested in what the Duggars were up to...
Anyway...as the scandous news about Josh Duggar has surfaced, I keep thinking about Josh's wife and kids.
Josh and Anna's life seemed almost perfect and their loving family's life seemed perfect too. Josh was the Executive Director of the Family Research Council, which meant he probably had a lot of money, and he and Anna were and are the parents of four beautiful little kids. What could have been better? Why did Josh's past have to surface at all?
I can't help but think about what it must be like to be in Anna's shoes right now. She has every right to be angry. I wonder if she is getting any sleep? Is she feeling betrayed? Is she thinking of making any drastic decisions? Is she scared? Wow...what is Anna Duggar going through?
Now, perhaps, Josh's life is ruined? Who would ever hire him or even buy a car from him? He has publicly admitted he messed up.
What has happened to the Duggar family also makes me realize that being as open as they were about their family's life was and is probably not a very good thing. They wanted the world to see that God had blessed them because of their faith, but they are not perfect and now the entire world knows.
For the Duggars, life will go on. This time in their lives where so much anger surrounds them will pass. They will pray and continue to be a family and they will seek God. In other words, life will go on, but there will be no more episodes on TLC showing their life and many people will miss them.
Even though I stopped watching the show, I admit I may miss hearing about the Duggar;s adventures...