Danielle Bean has an interesting post at Faith & Family about Michelle Duggar called The Force of Femininity. Michelle has taken a lot of abuse from the secular world, regarding everything from her giving birth to 18 kids to her hair style. When I first started watching the show I thought she seemed a little fake – how could someone be so “sweet” and calm in the midst of family life chaos? But after watching the show for a year or two, I can see that it is not fake. That’s the way she is and how she lives her life as a wife and mother.
It brings to mind the other reality show Jon and Kate Plus Eight. I used to love the show when it first started. Watching the kids grow up was fascinating but I had to stop after awhile because I couldn’t stomach the nastiness of Kate towards her husband and the lack of charity all around. It is heartbreaking, but not surprising, to see the situation they are in now.
You can’t help but notice the stark contrast between these two ladies and how they react to their husband and children. No one is perfect but Michelle is a humbling reminder to me that I need to be more like her… I need to bite my tongue when the sarcastic remark is about to escape or to take a deep breath before I lose my cool when Andrew dumps out the trash can…again. It is a reminder that my vocation as a wife and mother is a gift from God and I serve Him by serving them. I may never be as calm and patient as Michelle seems to be, but Ive learned that adding a little more sweetness to family life can make things run a heck of a lot smoother and happier!
Michelle Duggar: Model of Motherhood?
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I’ve heard comments about Michelle appearing fake although personally I’ve never perceived her to be so. But, honestly, I’d rather fake a disposition of peace and joy than display frustration or impatience, whether it is to a neighbor, my spouse, my child or a tv camera. Isn’t a joyful disposition a form of charity to others even if inside we aren’t exactly joyful over every part of our day? It just seems such an odd criticism to me.
“It just seems such an odd criticism to me.”
Precisely! I didn’t mean it to be an insult to Michelle, rather, it to be a reflection of how jaded and cynical I can be. It is sad that at one time, I (& society in general) would see polite, soft-spoken, patient, controlled women and I would automatically think that they were “fake” because “real” women were not like that.
However God has softened my heart and opened my eyes to see that THEY are the ones acting Christ-like and showing true femininity, so I’ve tried to be like that more. Thankfully the sarcastic comments don’t seem to trouble me that much but I’ve got a heck of a lot of work to still do with my patience. š
So, yes, I understand your point *now* but when I first started watching the show, I was not thinking the same way. I hope that clears it up. š
I completely agree that Michelle duggar is as close to perect as I have seen any mother get (That does include my own!) I think women in general, however, could be a lot like her if they read the bible a bit each day, listedeach gift they have and were thankful, and used a soft voice instead of a hard hand to turn away anger. Michelle, I hope you stay this way forever! May god give you a life ful of joy, kids, lots of birthdays, and lots of love. You rock!