Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

~written by Dr. Thomas Muffet, Physician & Entomologist of the 16th century.

According to EarthKind, Arachnophobia (the fear of spiders) is the 3rd most common of all phobias in America. Considering that there are at least 4,000 known species of spiders living in the United States, it’s not hard to see why so many people get upset about finding these pests in their homes.

Although most people do not care for spiders — either fear them or find their webs annoying, some people delight in teasing others with spiders. Near Halloween, lots of homes sport spooky decorations including fake spiders and their webs.

Yet, spiders also provide valuable benefits:

  • Spiders help control flies, mosquitoes, and other pests.
  • Help balance the ecosystem in both natural areas and gardens.
  • Spiders are a valuable food source for birds and lizards.
  • Reduce the spread of deadly diseases.

More importantly is a lesser-known fact — medical research on the medicinal value of spiders. Spiders have played a valuable role in new medical treatments. Research has discovered that spider venom has the potential to act as a safer painkiller and may be able to treat strokes, muscular dystrophy, and, of course, is used for antivenom in cases of harmful spider bites. These are among the many reasons spiders live among us.

You may remember Charlotte, the gray spider in E. B. White’s classic, Charlotte’s Web. Charlotte, Wilbur, the young pig, Templeton, the rat, and other barnyard animals form and teach friendship among the variety of barnyard animals. Charlotte, the main character teaches the valuable lesson of sacrifice for others.

This classic, written for children, carries an impactful lesson for, and is beloved by many adults as well. In fact, Charlotte’s Web reminds me of Naomi, of the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. Both were widowed women of ancient Israel. Ruth’s late husband was Naomi’s son. Alone and because of the culture of their day, they were worse than homeless. Naomi tried her best to get Ruth to continue on, without her, so that she could find a husband for sustenance and, possibly, to have children.

Ruth refused, saying, “Oh no. I’m not leaving you. I will go with you. I will worship your God with you, and we will look after each other!” And so it was, and as it came to pass, Ruth became a link in the ancestry of Jesus. It’s in The Book.

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2025