To my understanding, it’s a bizarre occupation : “Milk-Making Machine”.

How strange to be the source of sustenance and life to a baby.

As everyone told me “Breast is Best” for baby, I happily anticipated the role of milk-maker.  I understood that breast-milk is better than formulated milk which at best is a simulation of the real thing.

And don’t we all prefer the real thing, if given a choice?

I figured, as many mothers do, that breastfeeding was worthy of good attempt and, surely, with these enormous JUGS, I would be naturally talented at breastfeeding.

But what no one told me – before I had babies I mean – that for some women, breastfeeding involves pain and perseverance. I found that out the hard way…

Cabbage leaves stuffed down bra for relief? I’ve been there and done that on many occasions.

In the first four months of each of our baby’s lives, I became determined to solve the pain problem so I could persevere with breast-feeding. I even phoned a breast-feeding expert who came to visit me. She spent ages discussing ideal procedures, latchings-on and analyzing my technique from every angle…Only to finish her visit by telling me I had been breastfeeding correctly from the start.

So, trying to ease the pain, I tried other courses of action. Feeding baby in different positions made no difference. My nipples stayed red and chaffed.

Through a slow process of experimentation, I discovered that, mercy be, an ointment called Kamillosan helped ease the pain quite a lot. I started using it many times daily.

Until, one day, with extremely sore nipples and another endless day and night ahead with a seemingly insatiable baby to feed, I was horrified to discover:

My last tube of Kamillosan had run out!…

This was an epic disaster.

I was desperate for any kind of reprieve. My husband was about to leave for work that morning so I asked him for a special favour:

“Honey, do you think you could buy me some Kamillosan…

or similar?”

My lovely husband took this on board as an important mission. He took time out of his working day to go to the pharmacy for me.

He asked for Kamillosan. They didn’t have it. “Do you have Similah?” Nor did they have Similah.

Mildly perplexed, he went to a second pharmacy. They searched the shelves for Kamillosan or Similah. Nothing.

Slightly irritated, but persevering for the sake of his wife and baby daughter at home, he went to a third pharmacy.

“Do you have any Kamillosan?”

“Do you have Similah?”

A bit of a search.  No. Frustrating result. Not the hoped-for outcome.

He returned home to his now rather desperate wife – forlorn and empty-handed.

“I’m so sorry honey, they didn’t have any “Kamillosan”…

they didn’t even have “Similah”!

…I leaned forward enquiringly, perplexed…

He was pronouncing the word “similar” weirdly, as if he thought it was the name of an actual medicine.. “Sim – i – lah” ointment or something…

“What’s “Sim-i-lah”?”

We looked at each other, incredulously. The penny dropped.

I present this revelation of misunderstanding as a type of Trinity event:

1. Funny Story.
2. Life lesson.
3. Great metaphor.

Don’t you reckon, there could be an excellent marketing opportunity here – with “Similah” as a placebo for the real thing?  I imagine husbands anywhere with memory problems could come home with “Similah” from the pharmacy or even the supermarket and surely, at the very least, illicit a sultry smile from their wives for trying…

Unless, she didn’t realize this was not the real thing.

Uh oh.

Our acceptance always hinges on our understanding, does it not? So we’d be wise to check we have not misconstrued the facts, and made our own meaning from them. Nor been deceived. And herein lies the deeper truth to this “Similah” story…

My husband didn’t “get it”.  So he couldn’t get it.

Because he didn’t get it, he couldn’t give it.

Just as “Sim-i-lah” the ointment never ever existed…

Similar is just NOT the SAME as the real thing!

Surely, we all want the real thing?

Wouldn’t you just kick yourself if you went through your whole life, because of a misunderstanding, seeking “Similah” and missed out entirely on the REAL THING.  Like the inhabitants of Plato’s cave, staring at a pale reflection of the real thing and never climbing out of the cave to discover what is REALLY REAL AND TRUE?

In relation to this idea, I’ve been pondering:

How do you know if you’ve got the real thing OR if it’s just something similar? Just a fake, so to speak?

Here’s my simple checklist.  Just 2 items on it:

First: Is the source of the knowledge reliable?

Second: Are you listening correctly?

To address these 2 items in order:

Which SOURCE are you looking to?

My teenage girls recently assured me that they have a great grasp on a variety of subjects and not just because of their schooling.  They know a lot apparently and have formed many opinions because of the vast knowledge they are sourcing.  How are they acquiring this knowledge, pray tell?

Social media apparently.

Oh yay.

But are we any better? What’s the source of most our information : our parents, school, work, television, the internet and our peer group….Everyone has an opinion.  Many people will give their opinions even if they are unwelcome or not cared for. (I get the irony, yes, I may be doing exactly that right now with this blog…okay, moving on…)

Who are you listening to and allowing to speak into your life?

What’s the source of your knowledge?

And if you are convinced your source of knowledge is indeed reliable…

How well are you listening?

My mother in law showed me the Chinese symbol for Active LISTENING.  Wow!  All the required components are there – eyes, ears, focus (or undivided attention), your heart and also the presence of the King.

I love the idea that I could totally plug into listen with undivided attention to the King.  (I’m imagining myself enraptured by his presence and transformed at the feet of the living God.)

As a follower of Jesus, I know for sure this action of undivided attention would be helpful as I read my bible, pray, write in my journal, read or hear other Christian’s thoughts.  For as long as I may find a quiet space away from my constantly singing, scrapping daughters and as long as I can shut my own chatter up, I may have a chance of being attentive in the presence of the King.

At the SOURCE.  Like a baby at the breast.  Enjoying the sort of food can’t be given to me unless I’m willing to really be present.  Remembering to seek in order to find.  To knock so the door will be opened.  Spending time praying and in the presence of the Lord so I may be transformed in the process. Hoping and trusting – to grow in understanding and wisdom and grace.

And I reckon, with Jesus, that once we “get it” – by which I mean we understand exactly what it is Jesus is offering us – we can get it – truth.

Understanding some of what’s on offer is the first step.

Do you get it?  What if you’re looking for similar and ignoring the I AM of the TRUTH?

“I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6)

This statement is not just describing something similar to truth and grace and life.  This is an actual understanding and experience of the real thing. Don’t miss out on the real thing!

Once we get it, we can offer it to others.

And just like actual Kamillosan, access to the real thing will ease their chaffed nipples for sure… 

By which, I mean Jesus – the way, truth, life and gracious saviour for all of humanity – will ease their burdens and give them rest. Of course that’s what I mean.