The Scarlet Thread
Author: Francine Rivers
Genre: Christian Fiction
Characters: Sierra Madrid, Alejandro Luis Madrid, Carolyn, and Clanton Madrid (Sierra & Alex’s children) Elizabeth Longford (Alex’s Mistress) Marianna Clanton (Sierra’s mother) Luis and Maria Madrid (Alex’s parents.)
The Scarlet Thread, written by Francine Rivers, is about two women, born centuries apart, whose lives are entwined through a tattered leather journal, as they contend with God, their respective husbands - and even themselves – until they fall into the arms of the One who loves these beautiful women unconditionally. Sierra Madrid’s life has just turned upside down when she discovers the handcrafted quilt and journal of her ancestor Mary Kathryn McMurray, a young woman who left her home only to endure harsh conditions on the Oregon Trail. By following Mary Kathryn’s example, Sierra learns to surrender to God’s sovereignty and unconditional love.
Love is a powerful theme in this book, and nowhere is love better illustrated, than in the character of Sierra, herself, and the different forms of love that entwine Sierra with her husband, Alex, with the Lord, and with herself as a woman, a wife and a mother. Sierra’s love for Alex is like a fire that consumed her from the inside out. She loved him, heart, and soul, but their love was reckless, and secretive, and it was not built on a solid foundation of faith and integrity… so when Alex betrays that love, the pain that Sierra feels is also consuming…headache, heartache, soul ache. The stark possibility of rekindling that kind of love, after enduring such deep and profound heartbreak, is extremely tempting and Sierra recognizes that if she surrenders her heart to Alex again, that wildfire that is their love would consume them again. Sierra wisely sets a clear boundary when she and Alex are establishing the rules of their new relationship, by saying that their relationship would start with just phone calls only, rather than the two being alone, together, and in an intimate setting, which would allow their emotions to overpower them. Her fragile heart demands distance and time, and Alex respects this distance and agrees to meeting on her terms and it is the first time we see Alex truly connecting with Sierra, treating her respectfully, and making time for Sierra and her needs, rather than just serving himself, as he did before. He called her every night, when the children were asleep, so they could get to know one another again, as spouses, and we see Alex step up as a father, as well now. Whereas before, Alex had little respect for Sierra and spent very little time with his children, Alex is now spending quality time with both of his children, both individually and as a whole family together, and respecting Sierra as their mother by supporting her when parenting their children, rather than undermining her authority as a parent and demeaning her. When their son procrastinated going to bed, it was his father that made him obey the bedtime rule. And though it takes time for Clanton’s heart to soften, we do see Clanton respecting his father’s words as law, and obeying his father, rather than scorning him. Two things occur when Sierra and Alex are rekindling their love on the phone. First when Sierra just listens and allows Alex to confess his deep anguish to her and then, when she slowly starts to feel safe with Alex again…as shown when she starts their relationship over the phone and sitting on an uncomfortable stool, but as her trust in Alex is slowly restored, and their conversation goes on, Sierra moves from the hard stool to the sofa, where she could be more comfortable as she talked to him, ensconced in the soft cushions. As she so perfectly said “the anger got lost somewhere and compassion slipped in…for Alex, but surprisingly also for Elizabeth, as well…” the very woman who had played a part in destroying Sierra’s marriage. Sierra prayed for Elizabeth because Elizabeth’s world fell apart when Alex abandoned her. In losing Alex, she also lost her father’s respect and her freedom. Their love is assessed when Alex tells Sierra that he has spoken to Elizabeth – the mistress – but while Elizabeth’s intent was to reconcile with Alex, this time, Alex’s love for Sierra is cemented when Alex chooses to reconcile his marriage with Sierra over reuniting with Elizabeth. This choice is more significant than just choosing wife over mistress. Always before, Alex had chosen the glamorous lifestyle, and the prestige and success that came with, it over Sierra and his children, and according to the sassy debutantes at the country club, Sierra was the boring housewife and mother who desperately needed a hug and a fashion makeover and didn’t quite fit into their elegantly perfect world…Even when she tried to blend in, by changing her clothing choices, and becoming more elegant and stylish, and spending time at the club, Sierra stood out, like a beautiful butterfly among gloomy moths. Alex wanted the honor and prestige that came with marrying a lady like Elizabeth…for Alex, winning Elizabeth meant him rising above his humble beginnings and into a world of lavish wealth and esteem and when his affair was brought to light, he chose Elizabeth (and the life of wealth and prestige that she represented) over his humble life with Sierra and his children…its interesting though…when Alex had to choose again, this time between Elizabeth and his first-born son, Clanton, after they have a fight, he chooses his son in that instance, when Elizabeth insulted his son and slapped him. This moment is the catalyst which caused Alex to leave Elizabeth. And when the time came to choose between Elizabeth and Sierra, this time, Alex chose Sierra and his children. This moment is particularly significant because it is in this moment that Sierra truly relinquishes her emotional baggage with Alex and all the bitterness and resentment and pain that had been haunting her since then and she concedes that she was also responsible for the breakdown of their marriage, even with the affair…because she wasn’t being the supportive wife that Alex needed her to be in that moment, because she was so busy resenting this new lifestyle for seducing Alex away from her, so when Elizabeth offered her attention to Alex, he took it without hesitation because she is rich and beautiful and she represented the ultimate symbol of status and respect for him. She is the ultimate prize and getting her meant that Alex had finally succeeded in overcoming his humble beginnings and becoming someone who was worthy of respect.
It is only in this moment of reconciliation with Alex, when Sierra sees the true reflection of herself in that moment, and she is falling in love with Jesus, as well as having her love for Alex be rekindled, but this time, their love is built on a foundation of joy and trust and integrity, and respect, not reckless passion and subterfuge and anger and secrets. Their love withstood the test of time…and while there were moments when their love was challenged, in the end, the adage of “a cord of three strands is difficult to break” rings true. For it was only when they had Jesus at the center of their relationship that their love was able to endure the storm of life. It is on Valentine’s Day, the day when love is celebrated, that the love shared between Alex and Sierra is finally healed. He sends her roses and gives Sierra her heart’s dearest wish to spend time together, as a family, over dinner and a movie…the very thing that Alex was always too busy for when he was immersed in his career…he is now devoting his time and attention to his wife and children, and his family is happy and reunited and thriving. This moment is precious for two reasons. It represents the love-bond between Alex and Sierra finally being restored when she goes from sitting in a comfortable chair, talking to Alex on the telephone, to the couple sitting together at the movies, with their children sitting apart from them, and Sierra allowing Alex to hold her hand. While at first, they are both fraught with nerves, when Alex touches Sierra’s hand, she doesn’t break their hold and she chose to accept the physical connection with Alex that has been missing for so long. This moment also represents the fulfilling of Sierra’s constant and heartfelt prayer…that her love with Alex is restored and their marriage be healed and that their family be healed and made whole again. He slowly gave her that wish, on her terms. Sierra faces a choice when the children ask their father to join them at their mother’s home. While the children claim that it is just so Clanton can show his father a new video game, both parents recognize the deeper wish in their children’s eyes…that Mommy and Daddy get back together and they become a family like they were before…and Alex recognizes that while Sierra is becoming more comfortable with their relationship, she is not quite ready for that step yet, and despite the children’s protest, Alex, again, respects Sierra’s boundary and tells the children that he would do this at another time. Recognizing this kind of act on his part, Sierra chooses to relax her guard just a bit, and she invites Alex into her home, and they share a very vulnerable and cathartic conversation. Alex recognizes that Sierra must learn to trust him again with her heart, because her heart has been battered and bruised during this long journey. While Sierra is uncertain of Alex’s motives, he assures her that he is not going to rush her into reconciling their love. That it is going to take time for her bruised heart to heal and their souls to be rejoined as one…and that this time, Alex is willing to wait for her love, rather than rushing her into it, because, unlike Elizabeth, Sierra’s love for Alex was real and beautiful and sincere and unbreakable and worth waiting for and she truly was worthy of being his wife. Sierra may have lacked the wealth and elegant clothes and the charming and shallow style that the women of that world were painted as being, but in spite of their lavish and perfect lifestyles, these women seem lonely and unhappy and utterly miserable in their respective circumstances, whereas Sierra is more comfortable in her identity as a humble wife and mother and seems much happier and possessing a stronger and more stable bond, both with the children and with Alex throughout their relationship. Even when her love for Alex was in shreds around her and all seemed lost, Sierra’s devotion to Alex never wavered. She did not allow herself to have even an emotional affair with the charming and handsome Ron, who was happy to lavish Sierra with love and attention. Her loyalty was always to Alex, even when she was angry with him. When Sierra truly became a daughter of God and understood the deep and beautiful truth of God’s love for her, she relinquished her anger and even prayed for both Alex and Elizabeth when they were suffering. Much like the scarlet thread that weaves together the fractured pieces of Sierra and Alex and the life they share and the love that entwines them with each other and their children stands out because Christ’s love and, like Mary Kathryn, God’s love is in every part of their journey…every moment of life, no matter how insignificant and small.
Sierra’s wedding ring is a powerful symbol of the love that is shared between Sierra and Alex and how that love was first born and then broken and ultimately used to illustrate the healing of their love.
Although their parents did not approve of the couple’s love and they secretly eloped in Reno, rather than celebrating their wedding day with their respective families, Alex tells Sierra that the vow of love that he made to her, when he gave her this ring, was just as true as one made in a wedding where everyone was watching. When Alex is at his lowest moment, Sierra discovers that Alex is wearing her wedding ring on a chain around his neck, and he later divulges to her that he never signed the divorce papers, and they were still married. When Alex offers Sierra her wedding ring back, so they can give their marriage another chance, this time, Sierra is the one who gives Alex her hand so he can restore her wedding ring to its rightful place on her finger, signifying that their love has now been healed.
© 2025 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Author: Francine Rivers
Genre: Christian Fiction
Characters: Sierra Madrid, Alejandro Luis Madrid, Carolyn, and Clanton Madrid (Sierra & Alex’s children) Elizabeth Longford (Alex’s Mistress) Marianna Clanton (Sierra’s mother) Luis and Maria Madrid (Alex’s parents.)
The Scarlet Thread, written by Francine Rivers, is about two women, born centuries apart, whose lives are entwined through a tattered leather journal, as they contend with God, their respective husbands - and even themselves – until they fall into the arms of the One who loves these beautiful women unconditionally. Sierra Madrid’s life has just turned upside down when she discovers the handcrafted quilt and journal of her ancestor Mary Kathryn McMurray, a young woman who left her home only to endure harsh conditions on the Oregon Trail. By following Mary Kathryn’s example, Sierra learns to surrender to God’s sovereignty and unconditional love.
Love is a powerful theme in this book, and nowhere is love better illustrated, than in the character of Sierra, herself, and the different forms of love that entwine Sierra with her husband, Alex, with the Lord, and with herself as a woman, a wife and a mother. Sierra’s love for Alex is like a fire that consumed her from the inside out. She loved him, heart, and soul, but their love was reckless, and secretive, and it was not built on a solid foundation of faith and integrity… so when Alex betrays that love, the pain that Sierra feels is also consuming…headache, heartache, soul ache. The stark possibility of rekindling that kind of love, after enduring such deep and profound heartbreak, is extremely tempting and Sierra recognizes that if she surrenders her heart to Alex again, that wildfire that is their love would consume them again. Sierra wisely sets a clear boundary when she and Alex are establishing the rules of their new relationship, by saying that their relationship would start with just phone calls only, rather than the two being alone, together, and in an intimate setting, which would allow their emotions to overpower them. Her fragile heart demands distance and time, and Alex respects this distance and agrees to meeting on her terms and it is the first time we see Alex truly connecting with Sierra, treating her respectfully, and making time for Sierra and her needs, rather than just serving himself, as he did before. He called her every night, when the children were asleep, so they could get to know one another again, as spouses, and we see Alex step up as a father, as well now. Whereas before, Alex had little respect for Sierra and spent very little time with his children, Alex is now spending quality time with both of his children, both individually and as a whole family together, and respecting Sierra as their mother by supporting her when parenting their children, rather than undermining her authority as a parent and demeaning her. When their son procrastinated going to bed, it was his father that made him obey the bedtime rule. And though it takes time for Clanton’s heart to soften, we do see Clanton respecting his father’s words as law, and obeying his father, rather than scorning him. Two things occur when Sierra and Alex are rekindling their love on the phone. First when Sierra just listens and allows Alex to confess his deep anguish to her and then, when she slowly starts to feel safe with Alex again…as shown when she starts their relationship over the phone and sitting on an uncomfortable stool, but as her trust in Alex is slowly restored, and their conversation goes on, Sierra moves from the hard stool to the sofa, where she could be more comfortable as she talked to him, ensconced in the soft cushions. As she so perfectly said “the anger got lost somewhere and compassion slipped in…for Alex, but surprisingly also for Elizabeth, as well…” the very woman who had played a part in destroying Sierra’s marriage. Sierra prayed for Elizabeth because Elizabeth’s world fell apart when Alex abandoned her. In losing Alex, she also lost her father’s respect and her freedom. Their love is assessed when Alex tells Sierra that he has spoken to Elizabeth – the mistress – but while Elizabeth’s intent was to reconcile with Alex, this time, Alex’s love for Sierra is cemented when Alex chooses to reconcile his marriage with Sierra over reuniting with Elizabeth. This choice is more significant than just choosing wife over mistress. Always before, Alex had chosen the glamorous lifestyle, and the prestige and success that came with, it over Sierra and his children, and according to the sassy debutantes at the country club, Sierra was the boring housewife and mother who desperately needed a hug and a fashion makeover and didn’t quite fit into their elegantly perfect world…Even when she tried to blend in, by changing her clothing choices, and becoming more elegant and stylish, and spending time at the club, Sierra stood out, like a beautiful butterfly among gloomy moths. Alex wanted the honor and prestige that came with marrying a lady like Elizabeth…for Alex, winning Elizabeth meant him rising above his humble beginnings and into a world of lavish wealth and esteem and when his affair was brought to light, he chose Elizabeth (and the life of wealth and prestige that she represented) over his humble life with Sierra and his children…its interesting though…when Alex had to choose again, this time between Elizabeth and his first-born son, Clanton, after they have a fight, he chooses his son in that instance, when Elizabeth insulted his son and slapped him. This moment is the catalyst which caused Alex to leave Elizabeth. And when the time came to choose between Elizabeth and Sierra, this time, Alex chose Sierra and his children. This moment is particularly significant because it is in this moment that Sierra truly relinquishes her emotional baggage with Alex and all the bitterness and resentment and pain that had been haunting her since then and she concedes that she was also responsible for the breakdown of their marriage, even with the affair…because she wasn’t being the supportive wife that Alex needed her to be in that moment, because she was so busy resenting this new lifestyle for seducing Alex away from her, so when Elizabeth offered her attention to Alex, he took it without hesitation because she is rich and beautiful and she represented the ultimate symbol of status and respect for him. She is the ultimate prize and getting her meant that Alex had finally succeeded in overcoming his humble beginnings and becoming someone who was worthy of respect.
It is only in this moment of reconciliation with Alex, when Sierra sees the true reflection of herself in that moment, and she is falling in love with Jesus, as well as having her love for Alex be rekindled, but this time, their love is built on a foundation of joy and trust and integrity, and respect, not reckless passion and subterfuge and anger and secrets. Their love withstood the test of time…and while there were moments when their love was challenged, in the end, the adage of “a cord of three strands is difficult to break” rings true. For it was only when they had Jesus at the center of their relationship that their love was able to endure the storm of life. It is on Valentine’s Day, the day when love is celebrated, that the love shared between Alex and Sierra is finally healed. He sends her roses and gives Sierra her heart’s dearest wish to spend time together, as a family, over dinner and a movie…the very thing that Alex was always too busy for when he was immersed in his career…he is now devoting his time and attention to his wife and children, and his family is happy and reunited and thriving. This moment is precious for two reasons. It represents the love-bond between Alex and Sierra finally being restored when she goes from sitting in a comfortable chair, talking to Alex on the telephone, to the couple sitting together at the movies, with their children sitting apart from them, and Sierra allowing Alex to hold her hand. While at first, they are both fraught with nerves, when Alex touches Sierra’s hand, she doesn’t break their hold and she chose to accept the physical connection with Alex that has been missing for so long. This moment also represents the fulfilling of Sierra’s constant and heartfelt prayer…that her love with Alex is restored and their marriage be healed and that their family be healed and made whole again. He slowly gave her that wish, on her terms. Sierra faces a choice when the children ask their father to join them at their mother’s home. While the children claim that it is just so Clanton can show his father a new video game, both parents recognize the deeper wish in their children’s eyes…that Mommy and Daddy get back together and they become a family like they were before…and Alex recognizes that while Sierra is becoming more comfortable with their relationship, she is not quite ready for that step yet, and despite the children’s protest, Alex, again, respects Sierra’s boundary and tells the children that he would do this at another time. Recognizing this kind of act on his part, Sierra chooses to relax her guard just a bit, and she invites Alex into her home, and they share a very vulnerable and cathartic conversation. Alex recognizes that Sierra must learn to trust him again with her heart, because her heart has been battered and bruised during this long journey. While Sierra is uncertain of Alex’s motives, he assures her that he is not going to rush her into reconciling their love. That it is going to take time for her bruised heart to heal and their souls to be rejoined as one…and that this time, Alex is willing to wait for her love, rather than rushing her into it, because, unlike Elizabeth, Sierra’s love for Alex was real and beautiful and sincere and unbreakable and worth waiting for and she truly was worthy of being his wife. Sierra may have lacked the wealth and elegant clothes and the charming and shallow style that the women of that world were painted as being, but in spite of their lavish and perfect lifestyles, these women seem lonely and unhappy and utterly miserable in their respective circumstances, whereas Sierra is more comfortable in her identity as a humble wife and mother and seems much happier and possessing a stronger and more stable bond, both with the children and with Alex throughout their relationship. Even when her love for Alex was in shreds around her and all seemed lost, Sierra’s devotion to Alex never wavered. She did not allow herself to have even an emotional affair with the charming and handsome Ron, who was happy to lavish Sierra with love and attention. Her loyalty was always to Alex, even when she was angry with him. When Sierra truly became a daughter of God and understood the deep and beautiful truth of God’s love for her, she relinquished her anger and even prayed for both Alex and Elizabeth when they were suffering. Much like the scarlet thread that weaves together the fractured pieces of Sierra and Alex and the life they share and the love that entwines them with each other and their children stands out because Christ’s love and, like Mary Kathryn, God’s love is in every part of their journey…every moment of life, no matter how insignificant and small.
Sierra’s wedding ring is a powerful symbol of the love that is shared between Sierra and Alex and how that love was first born and then broken and ultimately used to illustrate the healing of their love.
Although their parents did not approve of the couple’s love and they secretly eloped in Reno, rather than celebrating their wedding day with their respective families, Alex tells Sierra that the vow of love that he made to her, when he gave her this ring, was just as true as one made in a wedding where everyone was watching. When Alex is at his lowest moment, Sierra discovers that Alex is wearing her wedding ring on a chain around his neck, and he later divulges to her that he never signed the divorce papers, and they were still married. When Alex offers Sierra her wedding ring back, so they can give their marriage another chance, this time, Sierra is the one who gives Alex her hand so he can restore her wedding ring to its rightful place on her finger, signifying that their love has now been healed.
© 2025 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.