The Soul Like a Weaned Child

 

 

 

"Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me." (Psalm 131:2)

 

 

I have been hearing news of the great disaster in Asia, where the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami has surpassed 100,000 people. Now, they say even an epidemic might spread. It is truly a frightening situation. People are predicting that there is a high likelihood of another earthquake occurring soon. Once again, the power of nature reminds us—albeit indirectly—of our helplessness as human beings. Just yesterday, through the news, I saw the sight of huge waves crashing over hotel swimming pools. I heard that many children died because of those waves. Particularly, it is said that many children died after being swept away by the large waves when they had gone to pick up fish scattered on the beach by the smaller waves before. It is truly a heartbreaking tragedy.

When I hear the word "waves," I remember something an elder said long ago. He mentioned that although waves may crash on the surface of the sea, below the sea, the oysters are creating pearls. I have not forgotten those words. On the surface, the waves may be fierce, but beneath the water, it is calm and still. Even though many people perished due to the large waves this time, I also heard news of a woman who was diving under the sea and survived because of that.

In the path of our lives, there are many types and forms of "waves." Because of these waves, we often become anxious, fearful, and even wounded. In the midst of this, what we have yet to learn properly is how to maintain the calmness and serenity of the soul, like the stillness beneath the waves. In today’s passage, Psalm 131:2, the psalmist refers to a calm, quiet, or peaceful soul as a "soul like a weaned child." Why does he refer to the soul as "like a weaned child"? In those days, Jewish mothers typically weaned their babies after 2 or 3 years. Today, it might vary, but it seems that babies are often weaned by the time they are about one year old. I thought about my youngest, Yeun, and what she was like after she was weaned at one year old (by U.S. age). I especially remember how Yeun, after being cradled in her mother's arms, would rest her head on her mother’s shoulder and stay still and peaceful. I believe that a soul like a weaned child is a soul resting in the arms of God the Father. I can imagine how calm and peaceful that soul must be.

I imagine what it would be like for my soul to rest in the loving arms of God the Father, listening to His heartbeat, hearing a lullaby sung by His soft voice, and slowly falling asleep. I think of how God the Father would hold me with one arm, while gently cradling my back with His other arm, and how my soul would hear His voice in that moment. What would I feel like then?