A couple weeks ago my family sacrificed their Saturday to go and meet the Duggar family at the Billy Graham Library – a dream of mine. I was so nervous that it would be so packed that we left very, very early. When we arrived they were filming our 12 passenger van driving up to the Library. My heart was thinking, “oh great, it’s packed. We’re gonna have to turn around and go home.” But no, there was hardly anyone in the parking lot at the time. And definitely not a lot of big vans like I had anticipated. As we walked into the Library there was already a line that had formed. The first family waiting had arrived at 9 am. We began our wait at 11am. The Duggars weren’t going to be signing books until 2pm! We stood and awaited. We played games. My sweet little baby slept on me in his wrap. He was so good the entire time we waited!
We watched as the Duggar’s walked past us to go on the Billy Graham Library tour. A wonderful tour if you’ve never been. It’s worth the drive from wherever you may live. You leave on fire to spread His word!
As we waited we noticed we were one of the few large families there. Of course ‘large’ is relative. Having six children is just a drop in the bucket compared to 19! It was so awesome to see so many people lining up. So much so that the line went out the door and down to the parking lot. I was so thankful we arrived early. The Billy Graham team was so incredibly kind in passing out some umbrellas to the people waiting outdoors. It was really hot and sunny that day!
I want to take a second to say how wonderful the Billy Graham Library employees are! We were blessed to be able to talk with many of them. They definitely helped to pass the time. So generous and so loving.
When the Duggar family was finished with their tour they came up to the table where we were to meet them. They blessed us all with their singing. My little baby just sat in his wrap on me and listened. As soon as they were finished, that’s when his sweetness had also come to an end. Oh that sweet little thing began wailing! I didn’t dare get out of line to feed him cause what would all that waiting had been for?? So I stood and apologized to everyone around me.
{I think Jinger’s face says it all. My little Josiah was screamin’!!!}
{Jana was such a joy to speak with!}
As we got to the front I was so excited and so out of sorts. Little man was screaming in my ear as I tried to speak to each family member. I can honestly tell you that I don’t remember much of what I said or what they said. I know that we kind of hurried through only because my baby was so hungry and also because I knew the line behind us was soooo long. The few things I do remember is that Jana is just as sweet as she appears on tv. Now, mind you, I haven’t seen their show in a long time because we did away with cable, but you can tell she has such a tender and loving spirit. Jim Bob’s sister, Deanna, was a sweetheart as well! I remember Jim Bob telling one of the BGL employees that they’d be over fast if they had families like ours coming through. Meaning the size, I assume. We only had two books for them to sign.
And then I finally came up to Michelle. I was elated to give her a hug and I only had one thing to say. “Thank you for encouraging me to raise my children in a biblical worldview.”
That’s it. That’s all I wanted to say. I waited three hours in line to tell her “thank you.” Since 2005, when I first learned about her family, I have tried to learn all I could about raising children from her. Her gentleness is definitely her strongest character quality. With her visiting so close how could I not take this opportunity to show my gratitude to the woman who has most greatly influenced the way I live my life? And all the glory is His. She continually points her children to Christ. What greater thing can you do for your children than this?
I couldn’t help but think of the ten lepers {Luke 17:11-19}.
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them,“Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way;your faith has made you well.”
I may have looked crazy waiting in line, with my entire family, baby tears covering me, for three hours all to say “thank you.” To a family I will, most likely, never see again. It was worth it.
Michelle, Jim Bob, Josh, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace and Josie, thank you. Thank you for allowing us strangers to take a peak into how you raise your family. How you plant seeds of faith. How you nurture. Beautiful representations of fruitful labor that many of us have never seen and, otherwise, would not know how to even begin to act like. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you my dears. Thank you for not conforming to the pattern of this world.
{hugging my sweet little Julia}
Blessings!
