The Cultivating Reader – Literary Leaf-Mould provides a fresh source of recommended books gathered from classic and contemporary authors. I introduce you to varied genres through the ages—classic literature, poetry, essays, and inspiring non-fiction. And you may find just the right choice for a book club gathering or luncheon because breaking bread together over a good read builds community! My prayer is for you to set aside time alone or with friends and linger over good words!
“I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay.
Small acts of kindness and love.”— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
We pulled into the used car lot to search for a replacement vehicle for our daughter. As we watched her test drive her options, a flash of yellow caught my eye. Someone was parking a sunshine-bright, soft-top Jeep Wrangler outside of the dealership window as if they knew my 4WD dream. She was a 2011 with just the basics: heater, A/C, and a CD player that ate the first disc I played. We bought two used cars that day.
Since she was destined to live out many days on our beach, I named her Gypsy, after my favorite poem “Sea-Fever” by John Masefield.
As I signed the paperwork for my Jeep, the salesman said, “You know about the Jeep wave, right? And the ducks?”
“Ducks?” I said.
“Yeah. Other Jeep owners will sneak a little duck on your door handle if they like your mods.”
“Mods?”
“Yeah, how you accessorize,” he chuckled. “You didn’t just buy a vehicle, you joined a tight-knit group of people who will wave at you on the road, just because. Nobody’s a stranger.”
The salesman shook my hand and demonstrated the Jeep wave (a casual peace sign). My daughter hopped in with me, and off we sped with the windows down and a sea breeze blowing. To our happy surprise, we received a few of the official waves and happy grins from fellow Jeep drivers. We rolled up to a stoplight and I caught enthusiastic gesturing coming from the black Jeep Wrangler next to me. The driver was holding up a little yellow plastic duck. He jumped out of his car (this is at the red light, mind you) and tossed it through our open window and said, “Now you got your first duck!” then drove away with a wave.
These little kindnesses from a fellowship of strangers still make me smile every day. My dashboard ducks sit in a slightly chaotic, jolly line—the latest addition came with a little plastic Jesus and a prayer tag. I bought a bag of ducks to hide on other Jeeps and I leave them on the door handles or running boards, praying that the driver feels the same giddy surprise that I do!
But the Jeep community isn’t just about the small gestures. We soon discovered Jeep clubs who were raising money for local charities every month. Our group scheduled pickup times for toy donations at Christmas, delivering three or more carloads of toys to the Marines. During the winter, drivers compete in obstacle courses to support Special Olympics; spring finds us trail driving through Ocala National Forest and zooming up dirt hills in Daytona Beach and earning donations for veterans who need service dogs. October brings costume contests and mud pits to raise money for crisis intervention for military heroes with PTSD.
And on any given day on our beach, you can always count on a Jeep driver with a tow rig who will pull you out of the deep sand and not expect to be paid.
People were created for this kind of fellowship, to bless and be blessed by one duck, one act of compassion, one wave and smile at a time. I have listed the following book recommendations because each title exemplifies the beginning of charity—love for one another.
1. To comprehend the gift of truly seeing the heart, read Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
A stranger named Theo comes to the town of Golden and notices portraits of townsfolk hung on the coffee house walls. Each portrait is the door to a life story that Theo writes down to share.
2. Biblical charity is best illustrated in The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen.
Inspired by seeing Rembrandt’s painting The Return of the Prodigal Son, Nouwen reflects on the love of the father and the humility of the son, who is still beloved and reconciled.
3. Giving all for the sake of others in The Autobiography of George Müller by George Müller.
George Müller answered God’s call to care for the poor and orphaned children in Bristol, England. Read his account of steadfast faith and witness that never waned while he cared for these children, even in the face of certain defeat. What a role model for us today!
4. Strong Allies: Creating, Cultivating, Restoring by Leslie Bustard and Thea Rosenburg.
Countless books have been written about what women can and can’t do, but this book asks the question: What did God make women to be? Strong Allies was Leslie’s culmination of inspiring stories over years of teaching and ministry.
5. Read of God’s charity for us in Clay in the Potter’s Hands by Diana Pavlac Glyer.
The Bible tells us that God is like a potter, and we are like clay. God hovers over His creation, centering us, shaping us, and transforming us: often in ways we could never imagine. This devotional is especially wonderful for those who create in the arts because the lessons parallel the process of artistic creation.
6. Remember sweet friendships and giving in Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.
A favorite story for generations of children. The simple prose reminds us of what true, enduring friendship looks like. Revisit the barnyard with Charlotte the gentle spider, Templeton the crafty rat, and Wilbur the pig in peril and see what true friends will risk for each other.
7. Giggle at the comical friendship in The Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel.
I must recommend this charming read aloud series again because the friendship of Frog and Toad is a model of charity. Slightly curmudgeonly Toad finds himself in various scrapes, but his best pal, the ever-cheerful Frog never fails to listen and lend aid. Charmingly illustrated, this is our favorite read aloud.
The world may seem to be an uncharitable place at times, but I believe that we are surrounded by kind people, oftentimes where you least expect to meet them. As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Weight of Glory, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” And they might even carry small, toy ducks.
The featured image, “Lake District Road for Peter & Lancia,” is courtesy of Lancia E. Smith and is used with her glad permission for Cultivating.
Annie Nardone is a lifelong bibliophile with a special devotion to the Inklings and medieval authors. She is a Fellow with the C.S. Lewis Institute and holds an M.A. in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Christian University. Annie is the Director of Visual Artists for The Cultivating Project and columnist for Cultivating Magazine. She is founding board member, managing editor, and author for the apologetics quarterly, An Unexpected Journal. Her writing can also be found as travel blogger for Clarendon Press U.K., with published poems at Calla Press and Poetica.
She holds a MA in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Christian University, and is a Fellow with the C.S. Lewis Institute. Annie writes for Cultivating, Literary Life, and Clarendon House Books, and is a managing editor and writer for An Unexpected Journal. Annie collaborated on three books in 2022, published by Square Halo Books and The Rabbit Room. She recently designed a curriculum detailing the intersection of theology, the arts, and history and is a Master Teacher for HSLDA. She resides in Florida with her Middle Earth/Narnia/Hogwarts-loving family, and an assemblage of sphynx cats and feline foundlings.
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