Wire Monkey Mommas

Many years ago in college I studied about the experiment of orphaned monkeys being fed by a wire framed “momma, “and the effect it had on the animal. The baby was given the choice of being fed by a wire frame with a bottle attached or going to a fur covered frame with no bottle or nourishment that would come from that plain wire momma. The monkey first went to the bottle, then within a minute jumped to the comforting fur covered ‘momma’ and clung to it for 18 hours even though this ‘momma’ could not feed the baby monkey. Harry Harlow’s Monkeys proved that the emotion of love could be tested in a scientific way. He successfully proved that when given a choice---most humans would also go for comfort or pleasure over seeking food.

All of this information was sent back from my memory as I was preparing our podcast show “It's Me God” where we were going to speak about “When Did Love Begin on Earth.” I wanted to parallel the ‘Big Bang Evolutionary’ thinking alongside the ‘God created All’ belief and tie in the beginnings of all emotions, senses, talents, thoughts, in other words---NON-PHYSICAL---elements of life. This was being done in hopes of showing that if we all evolved from the same tiny basic cells of life---then at what point did love begin, or how did love evolve along with physical traits?

Somewhere along the line---the Holy Spirit reminded me of Harlow’s Monkey Experiment that can be found at this link. (https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=hp-avast-s&p=monkey+being+fed+by+wire+mother+experiment#id=1&vid=8b03550b646fa018d3abb6660fcc3b78&action=view). After watching the video, it helped me see when emotions could have come into existence in all of the species. The video also showed just how essential emotions are for our survival.

Fear/fright/flight---we all know that emotion and how it helps to protect life. Comfort and pleasure could be closely associated with the emotion LOVE but really is a stepping stone to the total love element in our life. We can love things that bring us comfort and pleasure, but that love is one way. What comes back is just the pleasure of enjoying the item or eating the item.

Love that is giving and willing to sacrifice for the sake of others---this is an entirely different type of emotion. The first is a selfish/taking love---the other is the perfect giving/agape love that all have been gifted with by our Creator---the source of all love by some beliefs. Someone, some very special Being knew just what was needed for the survival of all species. Somehow, I cannot believe that the complexity of every species just happened with colliding of neutrons, protons, atoms from which all life evolved. There are up to 100 million species in this world, so many they cannot be counted and some still are to be discovered! And all of these species are designed to help with the balance of nature and perpetuation of each other. Totally amazing!

The earth, to begin with, was created by an act of LOVE for in order for God to love, there had to be someone to give love to, and they give back. In other words, God needs to be loved to be able to love. Inanimate objects can be cared for, but are not capable of loving back. (Hmm, I wonder if in giving God the glory just by their existence is giving some type of love and praise. Scripture does say the rocks will cry out, and the trees will clap their hands.)

It does seem that it was only when He created animals that we see the beginning of love. The question must be asked though, is it because they are grateful for the food, water, and their homes---that animals seem to give us love? All pet lovers out there will argue that an animal’s eyes speak deeply of how they love you, so I will not go further with saying any differently. I have pets too.

In animals we also see the importance of touch/senses in the giving and receiving of what could be considered tender love. They are so protective of their offspring. It is the touch that conveys comfort and pleasure, touch that is first felt in the womb—by the warm and relaxed being they are surrounded by. The baby also hears soothing comfort from the sounds of the parent vocalization, breathing and heart beat. Then, as they begin their life it is touch and sound again that creates the bond that is permanently embedded in the baby’s mind/spirit/psyche. They know who their parent is even if there are thousands like them surrounding them.

Each living thing is unique and completely different in every aspect of its being, and each reproduces the same species over the thousands of years. If we accept the evolutionary theory and we all just progressed from one level to the next—how did the scientist miss the fact that species did not become extinct that evolved into something different. Like our supposedly primitive ancestors like apes or chimpanzees—they still exist. I am sidetracking here ---back to the question of when did love begin?

The Source of all Love meant to create a being that must have free will and free choice so that the love they give back is freely given---not a forced love. This free will separates homo sapiens from the rest of all the other species. Love though or tenderness appears to have been instilled in the animal species, and the nerves that convey comfort plays a big role in this emotion? Even insects need the senses that keep them alive, and even insects sense fear and comfort.

When did talents like arts, music, writing, cooking, sewing, and skills that require a higher level of brains come into the species? When the need arose for these abilities to exist? Yes, for birds and animals definitely learned to do what was necessary to find food and build homes. All species it seems, did adapt as their environments changed in order to survive.

Mankind---well look at all the changes over the years--- mankind too has adapted, adapting with inspiration and ingenuity. Some inventions were needed for survival but many others were done for pleasure more than anything else. One in particular was electricity. Thanks to the brilliance of Thomas Edison, we not only have electricity but also the ability to communicate. Telegraph, radio, television, telephone soon came into human’s lives but oh my, look what has evolved from all of these inventions! A wireless monkey momma---which billions of children cling to for comfort. Some because parents have first become addicted to using, and then to keep children quiet and not a nuisance---they shoo them away, “be quiet, go play, watch television, play X-Box, here’s your iPad”---- and now as Paul Harvey would say---“now, you know the rest of the story.” Little did Harry Harlow know how those wire monkey mommas would evolve into technical wireless ‘mommas’ of the future.