Jinger (Duggar) Vuolois recalling one of the most “awful” seasons of her family’s past, and the “painful” moment it was unearthed and shared with the world.
In her andhusband Jeremy Vuolo’s new book,The Hope We Hold: Finding Peace in the Promises of God, released Tuesday, theCounting Onstar reflects on the day that her brotherJosh Duggar’s past molestation scandal was made public — and how she felt as though “a bomb had exploded” within their family.
In 2015, the Duggars made headlines when news broke that Jim Bob and Michelle’s eldest child, Josh, had allegedlymolested five underage girlsas a teenager. Two of his sisters, Jill Dillard, now 29, and Jessa Seewald, now 28, latercame forwardas two of the victims, insisting they had already “moved on” and forgiven their brother when the news surfaced.
Jinger Duggar/instagram
“Earlier that day, Dad had gathered my siblings and me to tell us that the worst trial in our family history, a trial we had long since dealt with and made our peace with, was now public knowledge,” Jinger, 27, writes inThe Hope We Hold.
The Hope We Hold.Worthy Books, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
“Intimate details about our lives were splashed across a magazine page and all over the Internet for anyone and everyone to read,” she continues. “I felt shell-shocked, as if a bomb had exploded.”
At the time, Jinger writes that she felt she was “living in a nightmare that I wished with all my heart wasn’t real.”
Referring to Josh, Jinger states in the book that “one of my siblings had made some sinful choices, but it had all been years ago. It had been awful, but we had dealt with it as a family,” explaining that they “sought the Lord” and “took the necessary steps to move toward healing.”
Duggar family.
But “now that it was out in public,” Jinger writes, “the old wound was open again, raw, painful.”
The mother of two — she shares daughtersFelicity, 2, and 5-month-oldEvangeline Jowith Jeremy — says paparazzi were outside their home, making the family feel “trapped in our own house,” she writes. After receiving instructions from Jim Bob and Michelle to pack some clothes, Jinger and her siblings then got onto their family bus before leaving their home at night.
“We were getting away for a few days until this all died down, they said,” Jinger states in the book.
Issuing a statement to PEOPLE at the time,Josh said, “Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends.”
Josh Duggar.Danny Johnston/AP/Shutterstock
The show’s cancellation came the month before Josh was involved in another scandal.
In August 2015,Gawkerreported that the eldest Duggar son appeared to have had active accounts onAshley Madison, a website created to facilitate cheating on your spouse.
Josh, 33, ultimately confessed to having a pornography addictionand cheating on his wife, Anna Duggar, in anapologetic statementon the Duggar family website.
Last week, Josh once again made headlines when he was arrested and accused of possessing child pornography two years ago. During his court appearance, hepleaded not guiltyto the two charges against him: one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Jeremy Vuolo and Jinger (Duggar) Vuolo.Jinger Vuolo Instagram
“We are disturbed to hear of the charges against Josh,” theysaid. “While this case must go through the legal system, we want to make it clear that we absolutely condemn any form of child abuse and fully support the authorities and judicial process in their pursuit of justice.”
The Hope We Hold: Finding Peace in the Promises of Godis out now.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
