Justin and Claire

Ok, Justin and Claire, what’s your next move?

You heard Mama Spivey say these same things over and over again, because she clearly prattles on. But somehow it sounded funnier in her kitchen over cookies, but oddly concerning when written in personal emails—sent to an inmate—an inmate accused (and convicted!) of really scary stuff—somehow those publicly published emails are not funny. That’s odd. You laughed before.

Will you laugh it off now?

Will you pretend you never read it, because you don’t take part in “gossip”? (But you did hear her say all this in person…right?)

Will you…try to make nice with Nathan Bates? Ginger?

Will you support Mama Spivey and tell her to not worry her little heart?

Or will you hesitate? Will you take a few minutes or even days to respond? Will you let yourself wonder why you laughed before?

Will you have the briefest introspection and wonder for a moment if maaaaybe Mama Spivey was…wrong? A bit of a hypocrite, just a smidge, maybe?

Will you wonder if you should rush to her side…or possibly put a little more space between you? Will you wonder — “do I have the backbone to do the right thing?”

Are you really, truly sure that these parents follow Jesus? Like, would Jesus write those emails? Would he laugh?

And if Mama Spivey cannot be relied on to be your moral compass, and Pops and Mama Duggar are also somehow wrong…Will you take a couple steps back from both?

Will you take a few step towards…adulting?