The Life and Ministry of Josiah Emmanuel Holsing

  Josiah Emmanuel Holsing
August 27, 2014 10:00 AM - 11:35 AM

Josiah Emmanuel Holsing was born on August 28, 2014 and lived on earth 1 hour and 35 minutes. He spent that time in the arms of his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members. We knew before he was born that his life on earth was expected to be short. God has a plan for every life regardless of how long or short it is. Not every life fulfills that plan but I have no doubt that Josiah Emmanuel Holsing did.

When a child moves to heaven either in utero or soon after birth, it can be confusing for those affected. Why did this happen? How can I love someone so much when I had so little time with them? Did I do something wrong? Am I overreacting? People who loved Josiah understandably had variations of those reactions.

With the best of intentions, the “world view” can discount such a short life by reminding parents that they will have other children, offering pep talks about God’s will, or encouraging the grief stricken not to give the God given season of grief its due.

Josiah's parents, Mark and Hannah understood that Josiah’s life had meaning and a purpose and as they walked through their grief and disappointment, they bravely played their role in ensuring their son fulfilled his purpose in life and ministry.

When they found out that their son had problems that would make life on earth difficult, their demonstration of such raw grief validated what every parent who has lost a child has felt. Their demonstrated faith reminded us to hold an eternal view of life.

Mark and Hannah are our friends. They attend church with us and were our Life Group leaders. They shared Josiah with us and allowed us to come to know and love him. We will be forever blessed because of him.

When Mark and Hannah found out that Josiah's life would be short, they asked the church to hold a baby dedication while he was still snugly inside Hannah's womb. This enabled Josiah to minister to all who had lost babies so early as well as those of us grieving the short time Josiah would be with us. Grieving together as a church family reinforced the purpose and ministry of every life. It made it impossible to think of Josiah as anything other than an eternal soul beloved by God and his family. 

Josiah’s life and ministry will most certainly make the point of the value of life and mean other children will be allowed to be born and live a life on earth. 

Like all parents, Josiah’s parents shared personal moments of his life with us – when he moved inside of Hannah, his birth, and pictures of his sweet face. It reminded all of us to allow joy, even in the darkest moments of our lives.

The life of Josiah allowed his parents to strengthen other marriages by demonstrating how Christian couples can lean on each other, God, and the church to survive and even thrive during the hardest moments on earth.

I personally have already used Josiah’s life and ministry to minister to other grieving parents. His life and ministry will continue to live on earth and in heaven – reminding me of the prayer – on earth as it is in heaven.

Thank you Mark and Hannah for being such good parents to Josiah. Well done good and faithful servants. He fulfilled his destiny on earth. Thank you God for Josiah Emmanuel Holsing. We love him but know you love him more.