Josh Duggar enters treatment as one mom's message goes viral

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have broken their silence on the subject of their eldest son, Josh Duggar. On Wednesday, the parents formerly featured on 19 Kids and Counting posted a message in response to his admission of using the site Ashley Madison to cheat on his wife, Anna Duggar, who is the mother of their four children.

"As parents we are so deeply grieved by our son’s decisions and actions," the Duggars' message reads in part. "His wrong choices have deeply hurt his precious wife and children and have negatively affected so many others. He has also brought great insult to the values and faith we hold dear."

Their post continues:

"Yesterday Josh checked himself into a long-term treatment center. For him it will be a long journey toward wholeness and recovery. We pray that in this he comes to complete repentance and sincere change. In the meantime, we will be offering our love, care and devoted support to Anna and our grandchildren as she also receives counsel and help for her own heart and future."

Michelle and Jim Bob concluded their statement by writing, " During this time we continue to look to God—He is our rock and comfort. We ask for your continued prayers for our entire family."

In the days leading up to the Duggar family speaking out about Josh leaving for treatment another mom's message about his infidelity has gone viral.

Jessica Kirkland, a mother of two girls, wrote in an open post that has been shared over 250,000 times, "Let me tell you: Anna Duggar is in the worst position she could possibly be in right now. Anna Duggar was crippled by her parents by receiving no education, having no work experience (or life experience, for that matter) and then was shackled to this loser because his family was famous in their religious circle. Anna Duggar was taught that her sole purpose in life, the most meaningful thing she could do, was to be chaste and proper, a devout wife, and a mother."

Encouraging parents to teach their daughters to "breath fire," Jessica's post goes on to say:

"As a mother of daughters, [Anna's situation] makes me ill. Parents, WE MUST DO BETTER BY OUR DAUGHTERS. Boys, men, are born with power. Girls have to command it for themselves. They aren't given it. They assume it and take it. But you have to teach them to do it, that they can do it. We HAVE to teach our daughters that they are not beholden to men like this... Please, instill your daughters with the resolve to make a man cower if he must. To say 'I don't deserve this, and my children don't deserve this.' I wish someone had ever, just once, told Anna she was capable of this. That she knew she is. As for my girls, I'll raise them to think they breathe fire."

Like Jessica, when I heard about Josh Duggar's affairs my thoughts quickly turned to Anna. For all the reason Jessica shared I feel for her, and additionally the fact she is mere weeks postpartum weighs heavy on my mind. Josh and Anna's fourth child, a daughter named Meredith, was just born in mid-July.

I fervently hope the counseling Anna is to receive is balanced in nature, as I too have heard the rumors she will be encouraged to shoulder some of the blame and responsibility for Josh's actions. That being said, I can't help but feel it's up to each couple in their specific situation to decide if divorce is the correct route to go. Yes, my knee-jerk reaction is she should dump him and move on, but I've seen other couples go through marital trauma and come out the other side strong, their families intact.

What do you make of the Duggar family's statement? The viral post about Anna? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below!

Photo: Patsy Lynch/REX Shutterstock