Weaning a baby off milk is a gradual process of cutting down the milk intake and introducing solid foods into the diet. It is not always a pleasurable experience to both the baby and the parent.
A baby never parts company with something as sweet and as dependable as milk without a fight. Sometimes the child’s protest may cause fainthearted parents to back off from the process for a while. But responsible parents will always use any trick in their books to make sure the baby is off milk. Some even put repellent substances such as chilli to put the kids off the white stuff. By crooks and hooks it got to be done.
It got to be done because the truth is that at a certain age the baby no longer needs milk as much. Initially, babies only need breast milk, or suitable formula milk. Nevertheless,, as they get older, they need to have other sources of nutrition to help with growth and development. At a certain age milk is never enough no matter how much they take it. Solid food not only that it is the food for the future but biting and chewing help to develop the muscles needed for speech development. So as uncomfortable as it might be weaning is an inevitable growth process.
As human beings, we have body and spirit. Each facet has unique needs that must be satisfied if we must be fully mature and able to fulfil our destiny in this world. Material things are like milk and spiritual blessings are like solid food. As intuitive human souls, we totally depend on material (natural) things to survive and be satisfied- things such as food, shelter, sex, and money. To be fully matured our souls need spiritual nutrients – love, meaning and hope. Every one of us needs to be unconditionally loved and accepted the way they are.
Over and above survival, we do everything we do because we want to be loved and accepted. Also each one of us wants to know the purpose of life, we all want to know who we are, and why are we alive; in every rational mature mind there is a quest for meaning – does my life matter? Is there any God, and if so why life is full of suffering? Then there is a matter of hope; what does the future hold for me, is my life going to be any better?
All these questions demand true and honest answers that only God can satisfy. When we fail to get satisfying answers we tend to feel rejected, meaningless and hopeless. As we grow, we reach a point where no matter how many material things we consume they never seem to be as satisfying anymore. As soon as we reach this stage God starts weaning us off material (milky) stuff and start introducing solid (spiritual) food. You will know God is weaning you when He starts taking away the resources and supports that you normally rely on to live, feel secure or fulfilled.
God permits us to hit rock bottom to help us realize we need more than material things to live a fully satisfying life. He wants us to know we also need spiritual nutrition that comes only from Him. Moses told the Jews; “(God) humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that is from the mouth of the Lord. (Deut. 8:3 NLT)
According to Hebrews 5:13-14, the standard measure of human maturity is the ability to effectively converse with God and fully trust Him in every aspect of our life. The only way God can show us love, meaning and hope is by engaging us in a personal, relevant, intimate, candid and honest conversation. This is called the ‘rhema’ word of God; it is more than scripture, a sermon, a set of religious rituals or instructions. We must therefore promote spiritual communication skills that enable us to converse with God in a dynamic way.
The biological process of life therefore is birth, growth, weaning, and maturity. Like any responsible parent, God’s ultimate joy is to see us fully grow and mature. In Genesis 21:8 we read of Isaac, Abraham’s son,” And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. When we are newly born there is rejoicing and laughter in the world. But when we wean and mature God our heavenly father throws a great party!
If you are being weaned be encouraged that your heavenly Father is well pleased with you and is looking forward to celebrating with you shortly.
Dreamlife Mission 