My 8 lb. 12 oz., 23″ long, dark haired, baby boy – Josiah Kent would have been 15 today.
The night he was born I was so excited. The sonogram predicted a healthy baby boy, but the sonogram was wrong. Josiah struggled almost immediately after I delivered him and they quickly whisked him away to NICU. Hours later he was diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia.
Five days later our baby boy was blessed with his entrance into heaven and we were left with empty arms… again.
For a time I had a “this is NOT fair” attitude. Why should I have to give back yet another son?
But it was what God had called me to and he quickly reminded me that he had entrusted this trial to me and wanted me to honor him through it. He chose me for a special mission and it was my duty as a servant of the most high God to glorify his name and allow him to give me yet another testimony to share.
A verse that spoke so much to me through this time was the verse that I used for the title of my book:In Faithfulness, He Afflicted Me
“I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right and that thou, in faithfulness, hast afflicted me.” Psalm 119:75
This verse told me that his decisions were right for my life and that this affliction he was taking me through was because he loved me and had something better for me. He would not let me down and in fact, had great things in store for my life. I believed him.
God was faithful. He did heal me. He fulfilled his purpose through it all. And I was able to once again, share of this faithful and wonderful God that I, and many of you, serve.
Happy Birthday to my baby boy – Josiah Kent Kraft. He’s just one more wonderful thing to look forward to in heaven. I’m so glad I’ll have eternity to get to know my son who I only had for 5 days.
*As you can imagine, I wish I had a million pictures of my baby. I only have a few but I cherish each and every one.
**Keep linking up your OTHER pictures! I’ve enjoyed laughing at them so much!
What a beautiful testimony you have of God's faithfulness and love.
Blessings…
He's just beautiful, Lynette! I really appreciated your book. You have a painful, but wonderful testimony. God's mercies are new every morning.
Happy Birthday, Josiah. I am so glad that God brought you through those trials and that you have been able to show others His glory. It's such a beautiful testimony and has helped so many people.
What a beautiful baby boy! I admire you for your strength and for your faith. Because you do have faith and believe in God, you will be with your loved ones again and you will have eternity with them. What a wonderful thing to look forward to. You are an amazing Lady, Lynette.
Through reading your posts, I have been blessed, encouraged, and humbled. You are a faithful and wonderful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. God could not have chosen a better mother for your precious Josiah. May you be blessed as you glorify His name.
Sweet, precious baby boy, happy birthday. Thank you for sharing him with us, Lynette.
Ever since I found your blog, you have inspired me through your testimony of what the Lord has done in your life. I cannot imagine having to walk in your shoes. He is so very faithful! God bless you!
God works in such amazing ways. I was just today thinking about your book.. and this verse. And what it means that "in faithfulness, He afflicted me." ME! You.. He picked me for a reason…
Praying for your family today. What a beautiful hope we have in Heaven!
Happy birthday, Josiah Kent! This may be a silly question, but do you think Heaven has driver's license? Could you just imagine him getting ready to start driving through the clouds?
Happy Birthday Josiah Kent !! I just finished reading your book in the fall and recently sent it to my Mom to read. I enjoyed it so much. Your whole family is very strong and I'm so glad to have met you. Prayers & {{HUGS}} always.
Caroline
Lynnette – First, I love you!
Second, I'm glad that God ministered to your heart through the post I wrote last night. He spoke to me in such detail that I knew I had to sit down even with a blazing tired headache to share it all. Praise God that you listened and went back to read.
Third, the photos you do have of Josiah are breathtaking. What a beautiful baby boy. I praise God for His faithfulness in your life and the fruits born from your obedience. In your weakness He has been ever so strong!
Thank you for sharing His faithfulness with us! Thank you for sharing a look inside of what deep pain feels like and how God washes that away to enable you to dance once again with joy!
Hugs sweet friend!
Jill
Happy Birthday Josiah! He is so beautiful.
Thank you so much for sharing him with us Mrs. Kraft. I'm sending you prayers and hugs today.
In Him,
Lexi
Dear Aunt Lynnette,
Happy Birthday to Josiah…He was a beautiful baby!
I'm so glad that you are able to share about all that God has done in your life, and the beautiful testimony that you have because of it…
Love,
Josh
P.s. Thanks for the reminder about the OTHER pictures! I'll try to do that today =)
Hi Mrs. Kraft:)
Happy birthday to your little Josiah – a beautiful picture of a handsome little boy.
What a comfort to know that you are going to be with him and Anna and Samuel in heaven for eternity!!
Your strength in the time of weakness encourages me so much. I can't imagine having any of my siblings pass on so soon…
Bless you and your family!!
Love,
Jenna
Lynnette,
I'm not sure you know just how you helped me through your testimony. I clicked on your blog from a friend's blog soon after I joined bloggy world. I read about Samuel, Josiah, and Anna. My heart broke for your pain and grief, but you were smiling and still loving the Lord after giving back THREE children. I had only given back one, and I was honestly struggling with God's will for my life, not only because of Grady but because of the other losses I had experienced. Thank you for sharing so openly and honestly about your feelings and so truthfully according to God's word.
Happy Birthday Josiah!
Love,
Tonya
Sweetheart,
Thank you for your faithfulness in sharing God's miracles in our lives! You are a very gifted author, able to get all the elements in your writing!
Josiah taught me and continues to teach me a lot. Through his life, I learned how to run to God as fast as I can, like a child that got hurt at a neighborhood baseball game runs to his mother to get her healing kiss. God didn't make all things turn out our way; we still had to say goodbye to Josiah; but, when we see him again (and I am more than confident in this!), we will give him the hugest hug and kiss and rejoice with him that we will never have to be apart again….! Praise God!
I prayed that Jesus would give Josiah a birthday hug and kiss (and throw one in for Anna and Samuel too!). Why not?
Happy Birthday Josiah Kent…Grandma loves you!
Lynnette I love you too sweet daughter! You are one amazing woman who truly loves her amazing Lord and Savior!
Mom
Happy Birthday Josiah Kent…
(((HUGS))) to your mommy.
Lynnette,
You have inspired me in so many ways, exspecially when I have difficult days.Thank you ,Lynnette
Happy Birthday to Josiah. God bless you, Lynnette, and your family today and always.
Beautiful baby boy – Happy Birthday Josiah. It won't be difficult for me to remember him because he was nearly the exact size of my sweet Micah! Micah was 8lb. 10 oz. and 23 inches. (one of those "rare" 23 inchers) My love & prayers to you all, especially today, as you remember your sweet boy.
Oh Sweet Josiah is watching you now & smiling that he is the luckiest little boy on earth to have had you as his mommy…..even if only for 5 days.
Love & Prayers
Happy Birthday Josiah!!!
Lynnette, what a blessing your story has been to me (and I haven't even read your book yet).
God is working through you and it is amazing to see all that He has in store for you & your family.
Many blessings,
Allison
Happy Birthday, Josiah. Lynette–I cannot believe how much you have gone through, and yet you STILL priase God. You are amazing.
Love,
Bekah
Beautiful post Lynnette.
Happy Birthday Josiah!
What a beautiful post
Lynette,
A mother's heart is truly never the same, nor forgets her precious babies- my Tatum would have turned 2 this may and Josiah, 15! Wow. I know that before I know it we will be at that milestone as well. Although I know God has a plan for my earthly life, I can't help but think that every day will bring me closer to reuniting with my sweet girl. Thanks so much for being so open and honest and sharing your testimony to so many!
Awe. Baby Josiah live strong in the name of the Lord little one and happy 15th birthday!!
You are amazing Lynnette! I just went through and read all the babies stories, and another post about the lost of your husband and the strength you have bring me to tears. Tears of happiness but I also can't help but cry for you and your family.
You are so strong with the Lord by your side and a healthy, strong family. You have made me cry, smile, hurt and laugh today. It all felt good.
Have a great day Lynnette!
Happy Birthday, precious angel.
I love you! Hugs to all your family on this special day…
Kathy
Thinking of your today girl. What amazing work God has created in your!
Huge hugs!
Oh goodness, I can't imagine having to go through this more than once. You give me hope that one day I will be okay again.
Thank you for sharing your story. It's so comforting to know others that have walked this path.
Hugs,
Trisha
Hi Lynette!
I am so sorry for your loss. I remeber the first time I read your blog I noticed one of your children & I shared birthdays.
Happy Golden Birthday Sweet Josiah!
Happy Birthday, sweet Josiah! Lynnette…you are such a blessing, and your testimony of God's faithfulness, even in affliction never ceases to humble and inspire me…our God's faithfulness does that, you know?!
Bless you, dear friend…and thank you…
Happy Birthday Josiah!! Beautiful! Love you girlfriend.
I know I'm late, but what a sweet baby boy. (((hugs)))
Thank you for sharing your memories of him with us.
Happy Birthday, Josiah!
Your testimony has helped in my own healing tremendously, but I ask, how long does it take before you can see the good in it and trust that God does know best?
Happy Birthday Josiah! I can't wait to meet both of you in Heaven (I don't think our paths will cross here, but they will in eternity)
God bless!
Happy birthday, Josiah! It must exciting to party in Heaven. Our Jessica died 24 yrs ago on Jan. 11th & was buried on the 14th. She was 3 months old & died of SIDS. I still think of her at sometime or other everyday.
Blessings from Ohio…Kim W<><
Sweet Lynnette – as I have mentioned before – each time I see a photo where a baby has this tube in their mouth – it looks just like my brother adam did. What a heartbreaking disorder and it's most dibilitating factor I feel, was the unawareness until birth. Thank goodness now, CHD can be seen on a ultrasound.
I know how much you treasure your photos.
Beautiful new blog design. An Abigail original?
Sweet Lynnette – as I have mentioned before – each time I see a photo where a baby has this tube in their mouth – it looks just like my brother adam did. What a heartbreaking disorder and it's most dibilitating factor I feel, was the unawareness until birth. Thank goodness now, CHD can be seen on a ultrasound.
I know how much you treasure your photos.
Beautiful new blog design. An Abigail original?
Oh, i so understand!…Our Sam would be 29 in a few weeks!.. Hugs for you and your hubby!…Praying for comfort and peace on this aniversary of lost, but yet hoped for dreams…oxoxoxoxxo
Sending Josiah birthday wishes in Heaven!
{{HUGS}} I'm sure it's hard not to have lots of pictures of Josiah. Such a beautiful little man. 15 yrs…wow…would have been interesting to see the dynamics in your household with 2 extra boys around!
Blessings,
Amy
Ever since you've posted this I've meant to comment, and will do so now.
Lynnette, you are AMAZING–I feel so blessed to be able to read your posts (hehe…sounds very odd grammatically if you read it aloud–what I just said). That you are praising God in the midst of pain is beautiful.
Happy late birthday, Josiah Kent. Beautiful.
Love & Blessings,
–Hannah
Lynnette,
As a mommy who awaits a reunion in Heaven with her own babies, I wonder if there is a special place the Lord keeps them? Maybe they are in a beautiful area right by the front gate, so that their faces are the first we see when we put our foot down for the first time in Heaven.
Since we have the same last name, it's always strange to see your babies names with the same last name as ours, especially your beautiful Samuel. We have a Samuel Kraft too.
Blessings friend,
Joanne
Blessings & thoughts to you as you remember Josiah Kent on his birthday! He was/is a real cutie.
I feel for your loss.
Peace and Love,
Georgiann