The Scarlet Thread (60 page)

was blessing. I didn’t fall in love with you by chance. It was

God’s design. I know now he draws us to him, all through our

lives. If we let him. Some of us are just so stubborn it takes a long

time to see his will at work.”
Some never do, do they, Lord?

She held his hand between hers and searched his eyes. “Jesus

is at the very heart of who I am now, Alex. I can’t go back.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to give him up,
querida.
I only ask you to

allow me in.”

Sierra’s heart melted. God had given her this man for a purpose. She had married Alex as an untried girl, head over heels in

love. She was still married to him, still in love with him. The difference now was that she was one with Christ, wed to Almighty

God. And with God all things were possible.

“We haven’t anything in common really, have we?” she said

softly. “Except Jesus. He’s our common ground, Alex. He

brought us together, and he’ll hold us together if we make him

our foundation. I don’t need to worry about the what-ifs anymore. I don’t need to have an answer to everything. I don’t have

to have everything worked out perfectly in my mind before I can

start over. Neither do you, beloved. We just need to draw closer

to
Jesus.
We need to trust in his plan for us. We need to learn

from him. And we need to step out in faith and begin.”

She touched his cheek tenderly, feeling the firm line of his jaw.

“Oh, my love, if we make drawing closer to Jesus our goal in life,

how can we not draw closer to one another at the same time?”

Covering her hand, Alex turned his head and kissed her palm.

“Mi querida, te amo muchísimo.
You are so beautiful to me,
mi

amor.”
His dark eyes were flooded with tears. “I am sorry for the

pain I caused you.”

“And I you, Alejandro.”

Oh, God, forgive me for the pain I caused you with my stubbornness.

I love you, Jesus.

She went into Alex’s arms naturally, leaning her head against

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still have a lot to work out.”

“I’ll get rid of the black couch.”

She laughed and breathed in the beloved scent of his body,

familiar and heady.

Oh, my love. Be like a gazelle on the mountains of spices. I have awak-

ened. Be with us, Lord. Make this a love triangle, a sacred one to last a life-

time and beyond.

Alex drew back slightly. “First things first.” Releasing her, he

pulled the gold chain with the crucifix his mother had given him

and her wedding ring from beneath his sweatshirt. Opening the

clasp, he let the two slide into the palm of his hand. He looked at

her then, the question clear in his eyes. He was taking nothing

for granted this time.

Smiling, Sierra held out her left hand.

“Dios, te doy mi gracias y mi vida,”
he whispered in relief and

thanksgiving. The tension fell away, and joy leaped into his dark

eyes as he slipped the gold wedding band back on her finger.

Taking her hand, he stood.

Fourteen years ago, they had faced one another as they did

now, the future before them. Cupping her face, Alejandro Luís

Madrid kissed Sierra Clanton Madrid reverently, before the

Lord.

“May no man or woman put asunder what God has joined together,” he murmured.

Sliding her arms around his neck, she kissed him back.

Oh, Father, we rejoice in you. We praise your name!

Mold us and make us one with you.

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Discussion Questions

Dear Reader,

We hope you have enjoyed this timeless story of family

relationships and God’s faithfulness. His faithfulness in our

failures, his healing in our brokenness, and his timing in restoration.

Tattered and torn scraps of cloth may seem worthless to

the onlooker, yet when sewn together by loving hands and

embellished with shiny thread they become a treasured heirloom. So it is with our families and our lives. What we see as

brokenness, failures, and hopelessness, God uses to refine us.

He weaves the shiny
scarlet thread
of his love to develop our

faith in him. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created

us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he

planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).

May the following discussion guide help you see the
scarlet

thread
God is weaving into your life to make you fit for eternity.

Sincerely,

Peggy Lynch

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1.

In your opinion, what was the cause/causes for the family

problems Sierra and Alex were having? How did Sierra

and Alex contribute to their own problems? What efforts

were made to resolve their differences?

2.

Compare Sierra and Mary Kathryn. How are they similar?

different? How did their communication skills affect their

relationships?

3.

How do you rate your own communication skills?

“Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring

healing.”
PROVERBS 12:18

“Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right

thing at the right time!”
PROVERBS 15:23

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Contrast Alex with James. What self-perceived

inadequacies did they operate under? How did this

thinking affect their decisions and choices?

5.

What perceived inadequacies motivate your decisions?

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust the Lord means

safety.”
PROVERBS 29:25

“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the

heart.”
PROVERBS 17:3

6.

In what ways are Ron Peirozo and Kavanaugh alike?

How are they different from Alex and James? Why are

they appealing?

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“It is better to be patient than powerful; it is better to have

self-control than to conquer a city.”
PROVERBS 16:32

“Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.”

PROVERBS 29:23

7.

Who did God use to get Sierra’s attention? How did she

respond? Who did God use with Mary Kathryn and what

was her response?

8.

How has God used people in your life to draw you to

himself? What actions did you take in response?

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time

of need.”
PROVERBS 17:17

“When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence

on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.”
JAMES 4:10

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Discuss God’s faithfulness to Alex and Sierra. In what

ways did God demonstrate his faithfulness to Mary

Kathryn and Kavanaugh?

10.

As you look back over your life, how has God been

drawing you to himself? In the midst of failures or

brokenness, how has he been faithful to you? Can you

see his
scarlet thread
of love making you fit for eternity?

“Remember, O Lord, your unfailing love and compassion, which

you have shown from long ages past.”
PSALM 25:6

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the

good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose

for them. For God knew his people in advance, . . . And having

chosen them, he called them to come to him.”
ROMANS 8:28-30

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for an exciting excerpt

from Francine Rivers’s

classic novel

The Atonement Child.

ISBN 0-8423-0052-X

Available now

at a bookstore near you.

The Atonement Child

It was on a cold January night when the unthinkable, unpardonable happened.

The evening had gone as usual for Dynah Carey as she served

food at the Stanton Manor House, a retirement home established

for Middleton’s city employees. She enjoyed her work, often

talking animatedly with the elderly patrons who came down

from their small apartments for communal meals in the basement

cafeteria. Sally Wentworth was a great cook and planned a varied menu. The only complaint Dynah had heard in five months

on the job was how much food there was left over. Most of the

people who lived at the Manor had come through the depression

years and hated to see waste.

The rest of the diners had left for the evening, all but Mr.

Packard, who was taking his time sipping his cup of decaf. “Your

car still in the shop, Dynah?”

“Yes, sir. They’re still waiting for a part to come in.”

“Thought it was supposed to be fixed yesterday.”

“I guess there was some kind of delay,” she said with a shrug.

She wasn’t worried about it.

“Is that young man of yours going to come pick you up tonight?” he said, watching Dynah fill the saltshakers.

She smiled at him as she moved on to the next table. “Not this

evening, Mr. Packard. He’s teaching a Bible study.”

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F r a n c i n e R i v e r s

“Maybe Sally can take you home.”

“It’s not far to the bus stop.”

“A mile at least, and a pretty girl like you shouldn’t be out on

her own after dark.”

“I’m always careful.”

“Careful isn’t always good enough these days. I’ve gotten so I

hate reading the newspaper. Time was you could walk from one

end of town to the other without worrying.” He shook his head

sadly. “Now the town’s gotten so big you don’t know anybody

anymore. People coming and going all the time. You never know

who’s living next door. Could be Pollyanna or Son of Sam.

Houses spreading all over tarnation, and no plan to the way it’s

sprawling. I remember when I was a boy, we knew everybody.

We left our doors unlocked. Never had to be afraid. I don’t know

what the world’s coming to these days. Makes me glad I’m almost to the end of my life. When I was growing up, we used to sit

outside on the front porch and talk. Neighbors would come by

and have lemonade. Those were good times. Now nobody has

time for anything. They don’t even build porches on houses anymore. Everybody’s inside watching television and not saying

much of anything to anybody.”

Dynah stayed close, responding to the ache of loneliness she

heard in his words and voice. He wasn’t whining. He was grieving. His wife had passed away four months before. The family

had gathered around him long enough for the memorial service

and then scattered across the States again. His two sons lived on

the West Coast, too far away to make frequent visits. His daughter lived in Indiana but called him every Sunday. Sundays were

good days for Mr. Packard.

Tonight was Wednesday.

“I miss Trooper,” he said quietly. He smiled wistfully. “I used

to call Freda ‘Trooper.’”

Mr. Packard told Dynah how he had come up with the nick4 7 2