Josh Duggar thanks father for unwavering support in Father's Day video-gram
If Josh Duggar has one good reason to speak out now, it's to show appreciation for his supportive dad Jim Bob.
The scandal-wracked Duggar, who was at the center of a media storm in May when news broke that he had been accused of sexual abuse when he was a teen, sent his father a videogram for Father's Day, sharing fond memories and giving thanks.
"I can remember as a little boy, riding in the tow truck with you and spending all those hours together," the 27-year-old Arkansas native said as his wife Anna, 26, stood by him. "And then as I grew up a little bit, we were at the car lot together, and I can remember learning how to do business deals and fill out the paperwork and all those things. And then later on we built a house together, and we spent three and a half years learning about construction and all the joys and sorrows of all that," Duggar said with minimal emotion.
The father of three (soon-to-be four) only indirectly alluded to the scandal by thanking his father for sticking by him through "the hard times."
"I can also just think of all the moments where you've been there for us through the hard times and through the good times, and I know that your investment in each one of our lives is priceless, and we're so grateful for you," he said. "And I'm grateful that you are the grandpa to our [kids], your grandkids, and we're just so grateful for your investment in our life. Happy Father's Day."
Anna, 26, added a brief message to the video-gram followed by a kiss on Josh's lips. "Thank you for raising such an awesome husband," she said.
Last week, the couple took to Facebook in their first message to the public since Duggar's official statement, while wishing their son Michael a happy birthday.
The video for Jim Bob went up on the family's website on June 21 along with other videos from Duggar siblings Jackson, James, Johannah, Jason, Jed, Jessa and Jill.
Jim Bob's wife, Michelle, also wrote a blog post about the father of 19, detailing five ways in which he demonstrates his love to their kids. No. 1 on her list was "He loves his children by having a learning spirit...and desiring to become the best dad that he can be!"
"When he lacks wisdom in what to do, he goes to the best Father for advice, our Heavenly Father," she wrote. "He asks God to give him an understanding heart toward each of his children, because he truly wants to know where they are coming from and to lead them in the way that they should go."