Jill Duggar Dillard has a lot of siblings to remember, but she has not forgotten the sibling who many of her family’s public followers probably have already forgotten.
The youngest member of the large family, Jubilee Shalom Duggar, was stillborn on Dec. 11, 2011. On Instagram this week, Jill posted a message and photos of baby Jubilee to remember her sister’s short life and death. The life-affirming post struck at the hearts of thousands of people on social media, many of whom shared stories with Jill about how they also had miscarried or stillborn babies.
The Independent Review Journal reports Jill’s parents, Michelle and Jim Bob, welcomed Jubilee’s tiny body into the world on Dec. 11; her heart had stopped beating three days earlier.
Five years later, the family still remembers their daughter’s short life. Jill’s post on Sunday showed photos of her parents holding Jubilee’s tiny hands and feet, along with a highlighted passage in the Bible.
She accompanied it with this message:
“5 years ago today my mom gave birth to my youngest little sister, Jubilee Shalom Duggar and Jesus welcomed her home to Heaven! She is a testimony to every life being beautiful; at 18 weeks gestation, she was a beautiful baby with little blue eyes, 10 fingers & 10 toes! She weighed 4 oz. and was 6 inches long. We miss you Jubilee and look forward to meeting you one day in Heaven! @duggarfam #jubileeshalom #job121”
The Independent Journal Review highlighted several touching responses to Jill’s post. One said they lost a nearly-full term baby boy eight years ago:
“Jubilee is up in heaven with my angel baby Jimmy who was stillborn at 39wks a few months ago. I admire your Mom’s strength going through something so tragic and so publicly while also keeping her other children’s hearts in mind.”
“5 years already. Wow. This will be year 8 for us. No matter how many children there are, the gap is still there even if the joy is full.”
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Another grieving mom added:
“I doubt you all read every comment but I’m sorry for your loss. … I’m thankful for my 6 babies on earth but my heart is always longing to meet my other babies in heaven.”
“I lost my sweet baby girl at 20 weeks 1 day. It’s been a little over a month and this is exactly what I needed to see. I can’t wait to meet her in heaven one day and I know she’s there waiting for me!”
Stories like these highlight the value of babies in the womb. Through social media and other venues, families are finding new ways to help society understand that every baby’s life, no matter how short, is valuable.
