7 June 2021 – One of my favorite stories has always been “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. It’s as good today as it was when I first read it forty years ago. The lessons of the story have stuck with me through the years. Charlotte and Wilbur have taught me many things. The book’s overarching theme is death, but I think the book offers so much more to the reader. The book also teaches about change, growing up, the circle of life, friendship and sacrifice. But there are several relationships in the book that we can learn from. Each is important in different aspects of our life.

The relationship between the little girl, Fern and the pig, Wilbur, starts as a caregiver-child relationship. This relationship is a common one for most children and baby animals. Fern promises to take care of Wilbur to keep him from the alternative. She does a good job and takes care of him until something better comes along. Once she discovers boys and other distractions, Wilbur becomes an afterthought. Unfortunately, this how we often treat people in our own lives. Even if we don’t admit it, we are always looking for the next best thing, and we often leave others behind without even thinking about the consequences of those actions.

Templeton is the sarcastic, caustic, self-serving rat. He sounds like everything we don’t want to be. He does many things for Wilbur and Charlotte but only when there is something in it for him. He’s rude and means, and we don’t like him at all. How many times have we been like Templeton, willing to do anything but only if there is something in it for us? None of us want to admit it, but we all do it. Maybe not consciously, but we do it. We’ll take out the garbage or do the dishes not because it is the right thing to do but because it keeps someone from yelling at us, or it earns us brownie points, or it might get us something else.

I was always in awe of the friendship of Charlotte and Wilbur. It is also the friendship I have always tried to base my own relationships on. The effort she puts in to save Wilbur makes her happy. Charlotte finds purpose in taking care of Wilbur and improving his life. Through her actions, we learn that in giving, we receive. By helping someone else, we can gain. Charlotte tells Wilbur, “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.”

The quote in the graphic is the true essence of the story. It is also what I want the people in my life to understand.

I am not a Templeton. Everything I do for those I care about is complete because they are in my life. They are my friend. Those I love don’t have to earn anything from me – they have to exist. Words and appreciation are only the beginning. I need to show people in my life how much they mean. Just being my friend is the greatest gift. To all of the Wilburs in my life, accept this and all I give with the grace it is given.