After reading Redeeming Love, I couldn't wait to pick up another Francine Rivers book. The Scarlet Thread highlights the life of two women, generations apart but of the same family. Enduring differing but similar hardships, it is their ultimate reconciliation with their Savior that binds these two women together. Per the title, the scarlet thread is represented in a quilt made by the earlier of the two women. Interwoven throughout is a scarlet thread representing Jesus/God and is throughout each of the differing patches. In particular, I love how she points on at the end that the final patch is a stone wall with a red thread coming down, representative of Rahab, one of the woman in Jesus' lineage (a harlot) and the rope instructed by the Israelites that she would need to hang from her window in order to be saved - neither woman had been a prostitute in the book, in the typical understanding of a prostitute. On the contrary, both of these women had been hurt by others (and had also done some hurting themselves); however, they had been 'prostitutes' who sold their souls to other gods. It is in the end that they return to Jesus and give their soul to Him, letting down their own scarlet threads, and the presence of the scarlet thread (Jesus) that is throughout their own lives. They make a point at the end of the book - we think that we are in control of our own lives, and that decisions are solely ours; however, Jesus is there, using every situation and choice to bring us back to Him. In that sense, everything does work for good, if we allow ourselves to return to Jesus.While this book wasn't as engaging and soul clenching as I found Redeeming Love, I can say that I was enraptured by the outcome of the book. There is a way that Francine Rivers writes that tends to stir my emotions, and challenge me to take a deep look inward. In particular, this story is a constant struggle - the later woman finds herself in a place where by worldly standards it would be easier to blame her husband for his own infidelity and not take stock of her own decisions and choices; however, in the end she is brought to the realization of how she herself had a hand in the outcomes, and she too must ask for forgiveness though her sin doesn't seem to be the same equivalent. What a gentle reminder this was to me that sin is sin - there is no varying degree of less bad or worse sin, only the degree of the consequence.Part of me wanted to argue throughout the book on behalf of both parties - in some cases, I wanted to shout to the second woman (Sierra) to just be honest with her husband and let things go, and on the other hand, I wanted to shout on her behalf, how could someone betray her. Perhaps this is because one of my personal fears is rejection and betrayal. That was eye opening for me, and probably a great reason why I haven't 'put myself out there'. I wonder why this is, because I grew up in a home loved and what I considered accepted for who I was. I suppose that this is something for later soul searching.Things that I found profound and want to remember about this book:#1 The sins of the father are on the son: This profound piece of scripture made me consider, what sins have I committed that will be on my children and my children's children? What must I change IMMEDIATELY and repent from in order to absolve this from their future? Also, what sins did my parents commit that might be on me now? Perhaps knowing and understanding may help me to better deal with myself and my own actions.#2 Weeds in a garden: Gardens are a theme throughout - there is a point where the apparent growth of weeds strikes a point: if we allow the weeds to grow, they will choke the flowers of life. What weeds have I allowed to overrun my garden because of sadness, fear, jealousy, vindication? I think that their are some weeds I need to pull, but I can't do it on my own. #3 Nothing ventured nothing gained.#4 Sometimes people need forgiveness more than we need to hold onto a grudge.#5 So blind to my own pain that I can't see the pain of others: Toward the end of the book, Sierra focuses on her own pain, and how at times she was blinded by her own pain and unable to see the pain of others. Right now, I am so blinded by my pain, and I've wasted precious time that I could have used to ease the suffering of others. For me, I must now put myself aside - I have had plenty of time to nurse my wounds, consider the cost, fixate on regrets and be selfish. How can I allow God now to change my heart into one after His own?#6 I think I need my own community: Another character in the book, Aunt Martha, is reflected on by Mary (the woman/relative who made the quilt and wrote in a special journal outlining her life roots and her trip across the Oregon Trail). She speaks to her character and how she is adored and revered in the community. A woman of integrity, she is quick to lend a helping hand and slow to gossip or speak poorly of others. Generous to a fault, this woman (who had no children or husband of her own) is who I wish to be - one who is known for her character rather than her tongue, known for her calm rather than her irrationality, known for her quiet rather than her volume, known for her generosity rather than her stinginess and selfishness, known for her lack of fear replaced by the courage of the Lord, and known for her relationship with Christ as center (not as strange). Such a woman - such a model. I think in a sense I need my own community, which is frightening for I know what it implies...I have so much to learn and so far to go - I think that I will try picking up my journal again and jotting my life down. Who knows, maybe it will serve to support and encourage another young woman in the future. In the meanwhile, I know that my heart was challenged by this book, and I intend to begin with immediate changes. I am thankful to Francine Rivers for using her writing gifts to share these messages with young women like me.“Life isn’t static, Sierra. Thank God. It’s constantly in motion. Sometimes we find ourselves caught up in currents and carried along where we don’t want to go. Then we find out later that God’s hand was in it all along.” ~Marianna Clanton, The Scarlet Thread“Oh, Lord Jesus, do {what you did for my mother} for me. Please. You know me better than I know myself. Open the doors and windows and let the Holy Spirit move through me. You are welcome in my house. Come into me, into my foyer and my living room. Wander at will through my parlor and kitchen. Be with me in my bedroom and bathroom. Go through every closet and every drawer, from the basement to the attic of my life. I belong to you, Father. Stay with me forever. Jesus, please remove everything in me that doesn’t glorify you. Make me your vessel.” ~The Scarlet Thread
‘… it is the men who dream of Oregon. It is as though Heaven itself beckons them and we must all cross hell to get to it.’Set across different centures, The Scarlet Thread follows the lives of two women who are joined through an old, tatty journal as they each grapple with their husband’s ambition.Twenty-first century woman Sierra Madrid is less than thrilled when her husband Alex announces that he has accepted a job offer which means they must move hundreds of miles to Los Angeles. She is so upset about the family being uprooted that she fails to see how God could have a hand in any of this, despite her mother’s insistance that God has a plan for her life. Suspicious of her husband’s new work colleagues and superficial new friendships, Sierra begins to feel like an uneducated country bumpkin and, therefore, worthless in Alex’s eyes. In her loneliness, she turns to an old family journal – wrapped in a scarlet-embroidered quilt – and finds her life becoming intertwined with her ancestor Mary Kathryn McMurray.Mary is a feisty young woman whose husband James insists on travelling to Oregan in a covered wagon in the 1840s. Like Sierra, Mary is reluctant to uproot her family and move hundreds of miles away. But she has promised to obey her husband and so – with bad grace – she packs up and prepares for the long, dangerous journey through Indian territory with her young family.The hardships for both Sierra and Mary are real, and there are many ups and downs for them. They doubt themselves, their husbands, and God. But eventually, they each come to recognise that God really does have a plan for their lives. Mary’s faith journey is carefully embroidered in scarlet thread onto a ‘friendship’ quilt. It’s only when Sierra submits herself to God’s plan for her life and learns to forgive and be reconciled with Alex that she understands what the scarlet-embroidered quilt means.I loved this book. Any wife will identify with some of the things Sierra and Mary go through with their husbands; every marriage has its ups and downs. The fact that it is set in two different times drew me like metal to a magnet – I love this type of storyline. Like all of Francine Rivers‘ books, there is tragedy, drama, love, forgiveness, grace. Wondering how Sierra and Mary will cope with each new incident that comes along kept me turning the pages, eager to read on. Skillfully written, it brings history to life while showing us modern-day women that we can learn from the past.
What do You think about The Scarlet Thread (2000)?
The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers is contemporary fiction about God’s sovereignty and faithfulness. After 13 years of marriage, Alex decides on his own to leave his steady job for an opportunity in California as a video game designer. His wife, Sierra, does not want to move and becomes angry and bitter. I particularly liked reading the part about the issues in the contemporary marriage. The couple has four times as much money but becomes very unhappy and Alex asks for a divorce. Sierra’s Godly mother gives her an old journal and a quilt of one of their pioneer ancestors, Mary Kathryn, who also had to move against her will back in 1847. The author beautifully shows the parallels between Sierra’s and Mary Kathryn’s journeys. They both are bitter and resentful towards God at the beginning but as he works in their lives, they come to see his love, faithfulness and goodness. Great writing with a wonderful message and a great ending! I think this would be an excellent book club read because of the marriage issues and the spiritual journey. It even has discussion questions in the back!
—Karen
I began this story with mixed feelings, and throughout a great deal of the book I had mixed feelings. When the book began, and I saw wonderful characters and a beautiful love story waiting to happen, I was totally and completely excited. I loved this book, for what it was and for what I knew it would be. Or at least I thought I knew. Then it seemed like one thing after another happened, and my ‘perfect’ ideas for the story were quickly becoming unattainable. The characters made mistake after mistake, and I was sped through the book hoping for the wonderful forgiveness, the reconciliation, that would of course fit into the fairy tale lives I wanted for them. It didn’t come when I expected it, however. First, came terrible and hurtful things that made me wince and cry out in hurt shock. Things were done, words were said, and suddenly I felt like I should throw the book away and never think of it again. The sadness! The betrayal! The pain and hurt and everything were almost unbearable. I thought there was no way that this book could have a happy ending. But I forced myself through it anyways, in a matter of days, putting my faith in Francine Rivers that somehow the reconciliation would come—even though, inside, I was completely sure it would not. Then, as usual, Francine Rivers surprised. In a wonderful way. I love this book. Alejandro and Sierra Madrid will remain in your heart forever. So, too, will Mary Kathryn McMurry. But that’s a whole other story.
—Melissa
This is the second book I have read by this author. I chose this book based on how much I liked the first book I read by Ms. Rivers. As with the previous book by this author, this book was a little slow in getting started -- so much so that I put the book down several times and nearly didn't continue reading. However, once I pushed through the story became extremely interesting -- so much so that once I finally got going, I finished the book in less than two days. The twist to this book was there were two entirely separate stories being told that the author kept jumping back and forth between. The main story is centered around a woman, Sierra Madrid and her family in the mid-1990s who are forced into numerous lifestyle changes as the result of Sierra's husband's sudden career change. The wife is very unhappy as the result of so many changes (which include a move to another city) and turns to her mother for advice and comfort. Her mother offers her help through Scripture and a journal written by one of their ancestors in the 1800s. The journal written by Mary Kathryn McMurray-a distant great, great, great grandmother, records her adventures of travelling the Oregon Trail (very reluctantly) with her husband and children and the hardships they endure along the way. While there are many parallels to the two women and their families and their struggles, the main character doesn't make the connection of their common thread (The Scarlet Thread) until after she suffers many hardships including the death of a loved one and a major relationship upheaval. Both women initially turn away from God and blame Him for their many trials and much suffering, but ultimately both are pushed into the arms of God after exhausting all their own natural abilities to control their destiny. Through their struggles they learn that control is merely an illusion and it is only God who is and always has been in control of everything.I love reading a good clean Christian book that leaves the reader with a great take-away message and this book fulfilled that outcome for me. My only negative about the book is that the constant switching by the author from each woman's story was somewhat frustrating, as it felt as though just as I was really getting into what was happening with one of the story lines, the author would suddenly switch to the other story line. In many ways I felt that each story could have been a stand-alone book, but then without the parallels of the two similar struggles the end result wouldn't have been as meaningful.Great story and a book I would highly recommend if you like a good clean story with lots of drama, a great takeaway message peppered with morality and Scripture but lacking in sexual innuendo and profanity.
—Kathleen Kurlin
