Punch, The Monkey

Punch, a monkey at The Ichikawa Zoo in Japan, has recently gotten some attention.

Mainly, for his affection for his stuffed monkey.

Apparently, the little one has been clinging, quite tightly, to it, bonding with it.

And that has been a bit of a challenge for the monkey’s overall well-being.

It preferred connecting to its stuffed monkey, instead of the other primates.

There was a refusal to connect with the living animals, until, more recently, when there had been some socialization between Punch and other monkeys.

The photos are adorable.

And who cannot relate?

A child and their teddy bear, right?

Mother-Child Bond.

As a mother…

“As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you...”

Isaiah 66:13

It reminded me a bit of The Harlow Study of the 1950s and 1960s, done on the Rhesus Monkeys.

In short, they were studying caregiving, nurturing and bonding behaviors, focusing on the primates and their offspring.

They did an experiment, “The Cloth Mother Versus the Wire Mother” to test how strong bonding patterns would be.

They rigged the experiment with two artificial mothers. One was made from cloth, a stuffed monkey, like Punch’s toy.

The other was only a wire embodiment of a mother monkey.

To study the bonding abilities at play, the wire mother was directly connected to a milk supply: food.

The Cloth Mother was not.

Would the offspring be governed by the need for food, over the need for comfort?

The results. Most of the monkeys gravitated to the Cloth Mother. They clung to her.

Concerning hunger, these babies would only go to the Wire Mother, long enough, to get fed.

And then, they’d return to the Cloth Mother.

Comfort seemed to win out over the basic hunger drive.

As a mother…

“As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted inJerusalem.”

Isaiah 66:13

Many of us have “Mommy Issues.”

Many of us did not get those nurturing needs met by our parents.

Neglect and abuse can interfere with that.

We focus on “Our Father,” so much so, that we dismiss the real importance of mothering.

And no, there is no such thing as a perfect human mother.

But in “Our Heavenly Father?”
We find the ultimate of all love, comfort, help, and shelter.

“Our Father” is QUITE “Maternal.”

Furthermore, we have Our Messiah.

“The Father and I are One.”

John 10:30

He’s the maternal bridge TO the Father…

“…No one comes to The Father, except by Me.”

John 14:6

And He beckons us to come.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Therefore, approach your Father now.

Let’s pray.

ABBA FATHER-

I come to You, in The Name of Your Son, My Savior, Yahshua.

You know how much I need You.

Your Love, Your Comfort, Your Help.

I confess that I struggle with issues, stemming from deep wounds, abuse, and neglect.

I am wounded by not being nurtured properly.

Heal me.

Forgive me for my sins, especially any concerning the bitterness and the pain I have about how I was mistreated.

Intervene now.

Take control of my life, help me to Heal.

You and My Savior are “One.”

Help me to love, to know, and to understand fully what that connection with You looks like.

Guide me closer to You.

Love Me, as the most Loving Mother would.

Thank You.

I receive it all, with gratitude.

In The Name of Your Son, Yahshua,

AMEN.

Copyright © 2026 by Sheryle Cruse