What is your favorite book of all time?

When I was young, my mother escorted me downtown to the Tyrrell Public Library every two weeks.  There, I would carefully select the maximum number of books allowed to get me through until our next visit.  I loved the books.  I loved the way they looked, the way they smelled and the feel of one in my hands.  Mostly, I loved the people and animals that lived within their pages.

As an ardent reader, I have belonged to many book clubs. At one such club, the leader asked us all, “what is your favorite book of all time?”

Some in the group could not choose.  We had all read so many great books. 

It was easy for me to answer. “My favorite book of all time is Charlotte’s Web.”

It was the first time I fell in love with characters and the first book that made me cry.  I was 8 years old. Yes, it’s a children’s book. It is also a book that we adults could take some lessons from.

If you don’t remember the theme, let me remind you:

Fern Arable, an eight-year-old, is devastated when she hears that her father is going to kill the runt of his pig’s new litter. Using all her persuasive powers, she explains that the piglet has a right to life and promises to look after it.  She saves the piglet, names him Wilbur, and takes care of him. Fern is forced to sell Wilbur when he grows too large.  She sells him to her uncle, Homer Zuckerman.  Mr. Zuckerman’s barn is filled with animals who shun the newcomer.

Wilbur soon discovers that he will be slaughtered for Christmas dinner and is terribly distressed. He sits in the corner of the barn crying, “I don’t want to die.” 

Charlotte—the hairy barn spider who lives in the rafters above his sty—decides to help him. With the help of a sneaky rat named Templeton and some of the other animals in the barn, she writes a message in her web above Wilbur, “Some Pig.” Strange messages continue to appear in the web, bringing people from miles around to visit these “divine” happenings and the pig that inspired them. Charlotte accompanies Wilbur to the county fair, where she spins her last note above Wilbur: “Humble.” Wilbur wins a special prize, and his survival is ensured.

After laying hundreds of eggs, it becomes obvious that Charlotte is unwell. She is too weak to return to the Zuckerman’s farm. 

Why did you do all this for me?” [Wilbur] asked. “I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.” 

“You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.”

A saddened Wilbur takes the egg sac, leaving the dying Charlotte behind. Once home, he keeps a watchful eye her eggs. Although most leave after hatching, three stay behind in the barn.  These young spiders, along with generations of Charlotte’s offspring comfort Wilbur for many years to come….

“Mr. Zuckerman took fine care of Wilbur all the rest of his days, and the pig was often visited by friends and admirers, for nobody ever forgot the year of his triumph and the miracle of the web. Life in the barn was very good—night and day, winter and summer, spring and fall, dull days, and bright days. It was the best place to be, thought Wilbur, this warm delicious cellar, with the garrulous geese, the changing seasons, the heat of the sun, the passage of swallows, the nearness of rats, the sameness of sheep, the love of spiders, the smell of manure, and the glory of everything. Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.” E.B. White

While Charlotte’s Web is humorous and charming, the novel also teaches important lessons. Fern learns responsibility when caring for Wilbur.  She learns to stand up for what she believes and that she can make a difference in the world. Charlotte and Wilbur’s relationship, despite their differences in nature, teaches a lot about tolerance and love.  It is a story of true friendship, often hard to find in this modern world.  As Wilbur grows up, like most of us, he must learn to cope with fear, loss, mortality, and loneliness. Charlotte’s Web is a story of life and death, but it is told with warmth through loveable characters. 

It felt good to reread my favorite book.  

I’m still learning some of those life lessons.  Fear, loss, and mortality are always before us, and, like Wilbur, we miss our friends and family who are now missing from our lives.  Like Wilbur, we must hold our loves in a special place in our hearts, a place nothing else will ever fill.  After catastrophic loss, we must learn to enjoy again all that is good.  After all, much of life is very good—

"night and day, winter and summer, spring and fall, dull days, and bright days. It (is) the best place to be, with the changing seasons, the heat of the sun, the passage of swallows… and the glory of everything.”

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31

Prayer for Today:  

Father, fill us with the joy of our salvation.  Give us the strength to surrender our sorrow, to rise from grief, and to live our lives to the full, even as we watch the clouds awaiting Your return.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus.  Amen