The Scarlet Thread

Have you ever looked back over your life and considered how God really does “cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called”? Or, have you ever considered how God allows the things He hates to bring about good in our lives?  Divorce, abandonment, car accidents, long-term sickness, miscarriage, etc. are just some of the things that believers face on a daily basis.  If you have been in those situations, can you look back and see the good, or are you struggling to try to make sense of the adversity we face this side of heaven?  Reading Francine River’s The Scarlet Thread, caused me to take a good, hard look at my own life, and find reason to be grateful for things I never imagined I could be grateful for. 

Sierra Madrid is discouraged at the direction her marriage and her life are taking.  After landing his dream job, her husband moves the family out to L.A. where fierce competition from other women and a realization that she doesn’t measure up to the other executives’ wives, leaves Sierra’s life spinning wildly out of her control.  Soon, however, through the timely gift of a journal, Sierra uncovers the fascinating life of one of her ancestors, Mary Kathryn Murray, a pioneer woman on the Oregon Trail whose life strangely parallels that of her own.  Both women discover how in spite of resistance, an unseen hand still moves and guides their lives and works all things for their good.  What I loved about this book was that it was refreshingly unpredictable.  I didn’t understand the significance of the scarlet thread or the antique quilt until the very end.  In fact, I kept asking myself, but what about this quilt, what does it mean?  Juxtaposed against a great story is a timeless message told only the way Francine Rivers can tell it.  A grand adventure, a little mystery, and of course a great romance placed this book on my “can’t put down” list.  Who knew, that the ties that bind us all together lie in the significance of one “scarlet thread”.  But then, if this statement leaves you with questions, buy the book.

If you’re interested in any other reviews of Ms. River’s books, check out “Christian Fiction” on this blog or Francine River’s site http://www.francinerivers.com/default.asp.