It's a pretty amazing feeling to have one's family approve of one's choice of a partner, so Josiah Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting must be high up on the clouds since his family, particularly his parents Jim Bob and Michelle, cannot help but rave about his new girlfriend Marjorie Jackson.
Jim Bob said that he has always advised his sons to look for someone who is just like their mother, so he was pleased that Josiah chose Marjorie - a 17-year-old girl who not only speaks two languages, but also has talent in acting and playing the piano. Add to that, she is also a devout Christian who has written a book encouraging young ladies to read the Bible.
His wife agrees with her husband, saying that Marjorie is an incredible young lady. "Those firstborns tend to be go-getters, and that is definitely the case. She has such a fervency and will make such a difference in the world. She has so many gifts and talents and has such a humble spirit," she told PEOPLE.
Jim Bob and Michelle don't think that their young age should be any concern, since they themselves got married when Jim Bob was only 19 and Michelle was 17.
"A lot of it is somebody's focus in life," said Jim Bob. "They get to a maturity level where they can focus on their relationship with the Lord, the true joy in life comes from serving God and serving others. Josiah has a lot of skills, he is gifted in doing video work, and he's making a living."
For their parts, Marjorie's parents have nothing but kind words to say about Josiah as well, and they weren't surprised that the two fell in love with each other, since they saw how their relationship as friends blossomed.
They also think that the two are a great match because they share a lot of similarities and just get along well with each other.
"One thing we noticed is that both of them show a strong level of maturity - they love God, they love their families and thrive around people and both make other people feel special. They like to laugh, they are always laughing," said Marjorie's mother Analucia.
Her father Greg, meanwhile, says that he appreciates how Josiah treats his daughter. He lauded Josiah for being thoughtful, respectful, and for sharing a deep love for the Lord. "We have a similar heart there, but he has a desire to do things right," he said.
