Entertainment

20 Love Lessons We Can All Learn From the Duggar Family

EntertainmentPublished May 24, 2019
By Nicole Pomarico
The Duggar Familyduggarfam/Instagram

Of all the families on reality TV, the Duggar family can be one of the most polarizing. Many people can't get enough of this giant fam, but others are less impressed. But no matter how anyone feels about Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their brood, one thing's for sure: There's a lot that people can learn from them when it comes to love. From watching Counting On and 19 Kids and Counting and following the family on social media, it's easy to see that they truly care about each other and about other people, and it's a really beautiful thing to see. 

It's really special to see this family grow, and to watch the ways they've loved each other over the years. We've seen the older kids fall in love one by one, like Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo did, and we've seen them transform into awesome moms, like Jessa Duggar and so many of her sisters have. And at the heart of all of this is unconditional love.

The Duggars have shown all kinds of different love in action, whether it's romantic love between spouses, how they lovingly raise their children, or the friendship these siblings have with each other that is sure to last forever. We don't know where they get their patience from (especially Michelle, who is practically a saint for raising 19 energy-filled kids), but it makes them an awesome example to learn from.

Here are all the lessons in love and life that the Duggars have imparted just by living the way they do. Fans may not always see eye to eye with them on all of their unconventional beliefs, but it's easy to see that no matter what, this family truly loves each other.

1/20
Take Marriage Seriously-placeholder
Take Marriage Seriously
duggarfam/Instagram

Take Marriage Seriously

Their courtship traditions might seem a little unusual, but we can't say the Duggars don't take marriage seriously. They're so intense about picking the right mate and making sure their union lasts forever that they are intentional about dating. Making a marriage work is important to them, and that's admirable.

2/20
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Stick By Your Siblings
duggarfam/Instagram

Stick By Your Siblings

No matter what scandal has gone down or what controversy is happening, these siblings have always stuck by each other. The Duggars often preach forgiveness, and they follow through with it, even when it would be understandable if they didn't (like in the case of Josh and Anna Duggar). Regardless of what happens, they're always there for each other.

3/20
Lots of Kids Can Mean Lots of Love-placeholder
Lots of Kids Can Mean Lots of Love
duggarfam/Instagram

Lots of Kids Can Mean Lots of Love

Having 19 kids is obviously way more than most people will ever have in their lifetime. But seeing Jim Bob and Michelle pull it off is proof that having a house full of kids can mean a lot of love to go around. Through watching this family grow up, we've seen the kids give out more hugs and more appreciation to each other than we could possibly count.

4/20
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You Don't Need a Romantic Partner to Have Love
janamduggar/Instagram

You Don't Need a Romantic Partner to Have Love

And Jana Duggar is the perfect example of that. While plenty of people have speculated about why she's still single, she's showing us that having love from her friends and family is more than enough. And honestly, she seems so happy doing her own thing that we get why she's in no rush to find someone to court.

5/20
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It's Important to Show Compassion
jessaseewald/Instagram

It's Important to Show Compassion

Jessa shared this particular bumpdate earlier in her pregnancy with her third child, but she also took the time to acknowledge Lauren Swanson's miscarriage, since they would have had the same due date.

"Lauren and I shared the exact same due date," she wrote. "We have cried so many tears, both together and apart. My heart aches for them. I weep when I think of how difficult it must be for her to see me pregnant in the very stages where she would’ve been -- right up through the baby’s due date."

6/20
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Having Patience With Little Ones Pays Off
jessaseewald/Instagram

Having Patience With Little Ones Pays Off

While all of the Duggar kiddos seem like they have a lot of energy, Jessa's boys truly appear to be handfuls -- but in a good way. Even though they're always making messes and getting dirty, she lets them be who they are. That kind of patience is so important when it comes to raising children, and it's a strength the Duggar daughters seem to share.

7/20
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Don't Be Afraid to Gush Over Your Significant Other Online
jingervuolo/Instagram

Don't Be Afraid to Gush Over Your Significant Other Online

Sharing sweet words about a significant other with the world can be a meaningful way to let them know how important they are. Jinger and Jeremy definitely don't hold back in this area, and it's kind of adorable to watch. 

"I never could’ve imagined that I would meet somebody that I would just absolutely love being with 24/7 ... until I met you!" Jinger wrote when she shared this photo. "No words could ever describe the depth of love I have for you, Jeremy Joseph."

8/20
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Support Your Partner in Parenting
jeremy_vuolo/Instagram

Support Your Partner in Parenting

Another thing these two are particularly good at? Showing each other how proud they are of their parenting so far. In Jeremy's birthday message to Jinger, he wrote, "I could not dream of a better companion, a better friend, a better wife. I admire you, I emulate you, I love you. Our little angel has no comprehension of the mercy and grace of God in giving her YOU as her mother."

9/20
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Teamwork Is Important
austinandjoyforsyth/Instagram

Teamwork Is Important

Seeing Austin and Joy-Anna work together to flip houses has been so much fun. We know that Joy has always loved her DIY projects, so it only seemed natural that she and Austin would take on this work together. And so far, they've been killing it.

10/20
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You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Be a Good Parent
jessaseewald/Instagram

You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Be a Good Parent

Jessa has never held back on showing the real side of motherhood, even when she gets hate for it. We love that about her -- she's always been willing to show that not every day is a walk in the park with toddlers. But still, she's an awesome mom, and it's clear her boys love her.

11/20
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Long Distance Relationships Can Work
jillmdillard/Instagram

Long Distance Relationships Can Work

When Jill and Derick first started courting, Derick lived all the way in Nepal. But they made it work, even though they've both been open about how difficult it was to be apart. And now, they're married with two kids of their own, proving that long distance love can be worth it.

12/20
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Support From Your Family Is Everything During Tough Times
siandlaurenduggar/Instagram

Support From Your Family Is Everything During Tough Times

Lauren and Josiah have been open about how difficult their miscarriage was for them. But during that time, they really supported each other. And now, they're expecting again, and it's great to see their happiness during this time.

13/20
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Keep Up With Your Family Even When You Live Far Away
jingervuolo/Instagram

Keep Up With Your Family Even When You Live Far Away

We can't imagine how hard it must be for Jinger to live so far from her family. First, Texas, and soon, she and Jeremy will be making the move to California, which is even farther from their home in Arkansas. But she hasn't let the distance keep her from spending time with her siblings, especially her sisters.

14/20
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Cheer On Your Partner's Accomplishments
jillmdillard/Instagram

Cheer On Your Partner's Accomplishments

Proud wife Jill shared this photo when Derick finished a semester of law school, sharing their plans to celebrate with a pizza party. When Derick was too busy for date nights, she'd even keep him company in class so they could spend the time together. We love how she's always so supportive of his goals.

15/20
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Be There for Your Family During Important Times
jillmdillard/Instagram

Be There for Your Family During Important Times

When Amy Duggar opened up her clothing boutique, it seemed like the whole family was lining up to support her. All of the ladies shared their finds on Instagram, hoping to bring traffic to Amy's store. It's really sweet to see how they all came together to cheer her on.

16/20
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It's Possible to Make Marriage Last
duggarfam/Instagram

It's Possible to Make Marriage Last

After 35 years of marriage, Michelle and Jim Bob are still going strong. Marriage can definitely be difficult -- so can any relationship -- but these two make it look easy. Through raising 19 children, filming a reality show, and everything in between, they have stuck together.

17/20
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Getting Married Young Isn't Always a Bad Thing
littleduggarfamily/Instagram

Getting Married Young Isn't Always a Bad Thing

A lot of people are ready to raise an eyebrow when a new courtship is announced -- after all, many Duggar marriages happen when the ladies aren't quite out of their teen years. But we've seen so much genuine love between these couples that we can't help but cheer their marriages on. Kendra and Joe are still young, but they always seem so happy to be together.

18/20
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Love Each Other Through Your Differences
jessaseewald/Instagram

Love Each Other Through Your Differences

It goes without saying that cousin Amy lives a much different lifestyle than the other Duggars, even if the foundation of their beliefs are the same. She does (and wears) a lot of things that her cousins don't, but that hasn't kept them from having a good relationship. They're still close, even though they're all adults now.

19/20
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Marry Your Best Friend
jingervuolo/Instagram

Marry Your Best Friend

The perfect example of marrying someone who's like a best friend is Jinger and Jeremy. They're constantly pointing out that they are each other's BFF, and it's really sweet. We don't doubt their relationship will absolutely go the distance because of the strong foundation of friendship they have.

20/20
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Your Siblings Are Your BFFs for Life
jingervuolo/instagram

Your Siblings Are Your BFFs for Life

If we know one thing about the Duggars, it's that their friendships with their siblings are going to last forever. No matter where they live or what they're doing, they always seem to stay so close. Having so many brothers and sisters comes with its perks, and this is a big one.

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