Grace Like Scarlett

Have you ever read something and wondered how your thoughts ended up in someone else’s book? That’s what happened several times for me while reading Adriel Booker’s “Grace Like Scarlett.” I watched a video where she explained her three reasons for writing this book. The first reason was to let women who have miscarried know that their grief is valid. The second reason was to explain the theology of suffering. And the third reason was to dispel the myth that a crisis of faith has to be a bad thing. Did she accomplish those goals? Most definitely; yes!When reading the chapters on grief, I found myself wishing that I had had this book to read right after my miscarriage. Adriel reminds us that it’s normal to feel so many conflicting emotions, that grief isn’t linear, and that although there isn’t a “right “way to grieve, there is a way to “grieve well.” She describes all of the “junk” that grief exposes within our hearts… guilt and shame, even jealousy and comparison. Reading the book feels like a friend is guiding you through the tough issues like forgiveness and being forgiven.Her theology of suffering explains that God DOES give us more than we can handle. However, he has promised he will be with us through it all. She talks about the incarnation of Jesus that we see in the Bible and guides us in how we can be the community that others need by entering into the pain of those around us.When discussing a potential crisis of faith, Adriel honestly explains the relationship between faith and doubt, who God is, the purpose of grace, and where God is when we’re suffering. She reminds us that even the heroes from the Bible questioned God, and doubt can make our faith stronger. Ultimately, our suffering wasn’t his plan, but he will use it to redeem our lives… if we’ll let him.My miscarriage was two years ago. I didn’t know if this book would help me, but I bought it with a hopeful heart. Whether your miscarriage was yesterday or 50 years ago, I firmly believe you will be blessed by this book. I know I was. It felt like the friend that I wish had walked with me through my experience. If you’ve never experienced miscarriage, I believe that this book can help you through other types of grief as well. If you’re looking to walk with a friend after her miscarriage, the materials in the appendix will help you to bless her as well.

With a mix of honesty and compassion, Adriel Booker shares her journey through hope and grief. In Grace Like Scarlett, Booker recounts the trauma of facing 3 consecutive miscarriages and how she found hope in the midst of heartache.Any woman who has ever faced pregnancy loss will find comfort and companionship in Booker’s words. Like a close friend, she allows you to walk with her as she grieves her 3 precious children. She puts words to the pain you feel, but are afraid to speak aloud. Nothing is too hard or too raw. Booker encourages you to openly grieve your loss. No matter where you find yourself in your journey through grief, she offers helpful prompts to honor your grief. Her husband also includes a special letter to fathers who have lost their children. I love their acknowledgment of the men who all-too-often are forgotten.Before reading this book, I didn’t understand the complexity of emotional pain caused by pregnancy loss. Booker’s story helped me identify my role in the lives of women who too often suffer in silence. She offered meaningful insight and suggestions for those who are able to support those impacted by this extreme loss.Most importantly, Grace Like Scarlett offers insight into the grief process and suggestions that can help anyone. Her story includes miscarriage, but her words apply to anyone who grieves any loss. If you have struggled to find a path through your pain, this book is for you.Interwoven throughout is the truth that God was with her always. Even in her darkest moments and when she asked the hardest questions, she shares how faith carried her through. Now, she shares her tender story of grief and hope to help others.

As the mom of a daughter who has had more than one pregnancy loss, I thought this would be a good book to pass along to her. I'm so glad I read it first! Adriel Booker writes about miscarriage and pregnancy loss (she's had 3) but so much m o r e.We are all grieving the loss of something--the death of a dream, the death of a spouse, the death of a child. Life is full of loss and the only way through is to take a 'deep dive' as Adriel writes, and hold onto Jesus in the waves.From the book:“A theology of suffering doesn’t mean God wills it or leads us into it. It means that when suffering comes into our still-broken world—as it will—He can be found there too.”"Suffering doesn’t choose the weak or the strong, the faithful or the faithless. It chooses the human."I am grateful for the bravery of Adriel's writing and to Baker Books for this resource. The Christian community is often uncomfortable and at a loss for words around the mystery of miscarriage. This book will help.

I needed this book 20 years ago when I lost my baby. I needed someone to walk along side of me while I grieved, while I cried, while I sunk into despair. But even though my miscarriage was 20 years ago, this book was a balm to my soul. I allowed myself to think about the pain and be comforted. I felt relief that someone else knew how I felt and could give fresh words of hope. I do not have the sharp pain of grief like all those years ago, but the healing continues.I am so glad that women now can have this book and Adriel Booker's message to be a comfort to them. Grace Like Scarlett dives into the pain of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. It gives you permission to grieve and to hope. Adriel does not gloss over the hard parts and she does not have easy answers, but she does remind you over and over again that Jesus is weeping along side of you, and that there is redemption even through the mess of it all.If you have lost a baby or know someone who has, you need to get a copy of this book. Keep a few copies on hand to give away as the Lord leads you. Believe me, I would have loved for someone to put this book in my hands when I had a miscarriage so long ago. Read it yourself so you can be an encouragement to other women who are grieving.

I have NOT experienced miscarriage, but this book has spoken to me in SO many ways. I am currently trying for children and it's been soul destroying for me and my husband, with the continual negative tests. (I am in no way comparing what I am going through to what Adriel went through) But Adriel's book has helped us in how to manage the dark days. Showing it's OK to not be OK, and cry out and not try and find reason or purpose in the horrible seasons in life we cannot avoid. Her book is real and honest, without patronising, but with real life experience of how to find Jesus in the dark. Diving deep. I recommend this book to anyone who has experienced loss in anyway. Amazing book, thank you Adriel.

Clearly written, key concepts and can be helpful in the immediate wreck of loss or years later. This book have name to what I experienced in loss that I wasn't able to recognize myself and helped me see what I was going through was the loss and was normal not my failure in some way. Not everyone experiencing loss will want to dive into talking through the experience right away but get the book anyway and it'll be there for that day when things are surfacing and with the chapters short and simply structured it's easy enough to read slow and take small steps.

Having experienced recurrent miscarriage like the author, I found this book such a helpful companion in such a hard season.Adriel manages to convey the raw pain of loss, and the wrestling with questions of faith that can follow, but also manages to offer so much solidarity and hope.

Unfortunately I did not realise the book is heavily religious based...

Her heart was interwoven between each page. She combines scripture and her life experiences into this intense, sometimes hard to process book. But, after taking a couple days break at a time (as the loss was so raw and hard to deal with) I was able to push through and it brought me closer to God, to understanding miscarriage, to understanding my husband (with a great letter to Dads at the back from Adriels husband, Ryan) and helping have grace for others as I deal with this ache.Thank you Adriel for this! For letting God use you in such an intense way. Having been a student in Townsville and now a mother who has lost her baby, thank you!!