The Duggar family is getting increasingly popular and fans are wondering about members of the brood other than the ones that have been featured the most lately, such as Jinger Duggar.
Jinger, 20, is the fourth oldest daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle (behind Jana, Jill, and Jessa). Like her oldest sister Jana, Jinger is currently single, unless any of the rumors about secret romances are correct.
Jinger, who was born on December 21 in 1993,
The family’s official website reveals some interesting facts about Jinger, such as her favorite Bible chapter (Colossians 3); her favorite Bible character (Esther); and her favorite song (coffee).
It also reveals her favorite food (coffee “Does that count?”); her favorite past-time (photography, playing piano); and her favorite family trip (Central America).
And it says that her favorite episode of the 19 Kids and Counting show, which follows the family, is Duggars Explore Central America. In addition, her future plans are to gain more photography skills, while a fun fact about her is that she can make the most facial expressions in the family.
Jinger is quoted on the website about her love of coffee. “Everyone has to believe in something,” she says. “I believe I'll have another cup of coffee!”
Jinger is definitely in the shadow of some of her older siblings, especially Jill and Jessa as they get married or prepared to get married and start families.
But Jinger revealed more about herself in the book Growing Up Duggar, which was written by her, Jill, Jessa, and Jana with the help of an author.
Most of the book was written by the author but in various parts one of the girls identifies a following passage as from herself. Jinger is notably the least-heard from in the book but does tell readers a few things about herself.
A few things were also revealed about her. In the part of the book that the girls describe how they have learned to open their hearts to their parents during their private meetings with them--which occur every month or so--it’s written that “All of us girls have realized that if we end up crying when we’re talking to Mom and Dad (and Jill and Jinger are now the most likely to cry), it’s usually because we’ve waited too long to share the concerns of our hearts.”
Another portion of the book, in which the girls describe why they seek to avoid physical contact with men outside side-hugs and hand-holding before marriage, reveals that each girl has a purity ring and that Jinger’s has a heart design set with a small diamond.
“To each of us, the ring has a fourfold purpose. First, it’s a symbol of our commitment to keep ourselves physically pure as we wait for the one God intends for us to marry. Second, it symbolizes our desire to involve our parents in our decision of a life partner,” the girls wrote.
“Third, our ring reminds us to pray for the man God would have us marry and to guard our own heart so that one day we can share it fully with him. Fourth (and most important), it’s a reminder that God is the true fulfiller of all our desires and also a reminder to cherish our relationship with Him and live purposefully between now and the time He sees fit to bring that man into our lives.”
Besides one other small section in which Jinger is identified as speaking, she only writes twice more--but these are two of the longest sections in the book. Near the end of the book, all four girls take turns describing important life experiences--Jinger shares how she has been profoundly impacted by serving at a local juvenile detention center. Jinger titled her part of the chapter, “ministering behind bars,” as she tried to convert the girls to Christianity by sharing her life story.
“So many times in ministry, you reach out to someone with your testimony or some other information about the gospel, and that person just isn’t interested. But in juvy, more times than not, the teens we talk to are ready to listen,” she wrote.
Jinger perhaps has two highly identifying characteristics--her love of coffee and photography (she took engagement photos for Jessa and Ben Seewald, for instance). She talks about the latter a bit in the book.
“Like Jana, Jill, and Jessa, I (Jinger) am at a time when I’m asking God to lead me in the direction He would have for my life. Photography is something I have enjoyed for several years now, and I’m constantly looking for ways I can use what I’ve learned, hoping it can be a blessing to others,” she wrote.
“Scott Enlow, the videographer for the 19 Kids and Counting TV series, has been very kind to share his wealth of information and teach some of us kids about the technical side of photography as well as sharing tips on things like composition and framing. I was honored to be asked to take individual portraits and family photos for some political candidates during the last campaign season, and I love snapping photos of our family whenever we’re traveling.
“A friend and I also photographed a wedding—a rather scary thing for us because neither of us had done a wedding before. One concern was the lighting. We were hoping we wouldn’t have to use flash, both because the pictures aren’t as pretty and also because the flash itself would distract from the ceremony. We did a lot of preparation and praying in the days leading up to the wedding, and God helped us stay calm and focused (literally!) on the job at hand. When it was all said and done, the couple was pleased with the way the pictures turned out, and we were thankful for that.”
Jinger’s other long sharing was about how the kids are encouraged to come to their parents at any time. She said that she went through “went through a couple of difficult stages when talking with Mom and Dad was both challenging—and healing.” The first was when she was about five years old, and the family went into the bathroom to huddle down as a tornado warning was issued and then the tornado roared by in a nearby neighborhood.
“For a long time after that I was fearful of death and of storms. There were many, many nights when I would wake up Mom and Dad in the middle of the night, worrying that another storm would come and kill us all. Or kill me. Or kill them and leave us kids to fend for ourselves,” Jinger wrote. Her parents would read her Bible verses and seek to reassure her.
Another big issue was when she turned 13.
“You’re no longer a little girl, but you’re not quite a woman. The hormones kick in. You suddenly notice boys. Confusing thoughts are zipping through your mind and sometimes lies fill your head, telling you things like ‘I’m ugly’ or ‘I’m never gonna get a guy,’” she wrote.
“The lies in your head can seem random and constant, making you think you have to look a certain way or act a certain way. Self-acceptance becomes a major issue. You want to change your looks, your friends, your personality, everything. You want desperately to appear like a super-cool teenager, but at the same time, you may feel yourself inwardly spiraling downward into an endless well of self-doubt.
“When I was in this stage, I went to my parents many a night, or I would confide in Mom during the day, sharing my worries or doubts about myself. My parents responded with unwavering love and encouragement. Dad would say, ‘Jinger, as long as you keep talking, you will be okay! You’ll get through this. It’s a season of your life, and things will get easier as you grow in your relationship with God.'”
Jinger said her parents later asked her if they could ask Jana to talk to her, and she agreed. Jana then opened up about her own teenage years and how she went through many of the same struggles.
“She said this emotional roller coaster affects a lot of teenage girls, but as you seek the Lord and grow in your relationship with Him you will be strengthened, and these trials will slowly fade away,” Jinger said.
“Mom knew that her and Dad’s reassurance was helpful, but to hear it from an older sister who had been in the same stage not too long ago was even more powerful ... I listened to Mom’s and Jana’s counsel, and the troubling thoughts soon lessened.”
MORE:
Jana Duggar: Quotes From Oldest Daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle (+Age, Engaged, Single, or Married)
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