Before We Belong: The Christmas story that began the Discerning God’s Best series journey

True belonging begins with remembering Whose you are.

Edgefield, South Carolina — Christmas 1851
Both born to privilege, Mary Rogers and Melvin Trexler have grown up surrounded by abundance but see the world through very different eyes. For Mary’s family, Christmas means humble worship in a candlelit barn, where Scripture and song remind every soul of God’s nearness. For the Trexlers, it’s a season to display wealth and status beneath chandeliers and across polished floors.

When Melvin reluctantly attends the Rogers’ simple Nativity celebration, the contrast between their two worlds unsettles him more than he expects. A single evening of truth, courage, and quiet faith stirs questions he’s long avoided—about justice, about love, and about what it means to serve the One born in a manger.

As tensions rise and reputations hang in the balance, Mary and Melvin must decide whether obedience to God is worth defying expectations. One holy night will change their hearts forever… and mark the beginning of a love that finally finds where it belongs.

If you love childhood-friends-to-lovers romances, accidental engagements, and faith-driven love stories where obedience to God changes everything, you’ll treasure this heartwarming Christmas short story.

Fans of Karen Witemeyer, Julie Klassen, and Michelle Griep will enjoy Heidi Gray McGill’s tender storytelling—where humor, hope, and heartfelt conviction intertwine to show that true belonging begins in God’s hands.