He was a carpenter. She was an ordinary girl. Confused and weary, they journeyed to Bethlehem. Silent night, holy night He was an inn keeper doing his job. There was no room, only a dirty stable. All is calm, all is bright Mary gave birth that night to a baby boy. Joseph held her hand. They wrapped him in cloth and placed him in a manger. Round yon virgin mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Shepherds watched over their flocks by night. Angels appeared to them, secrets untold. Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Three wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Son of God, love's pure light It's a story we know all too well. And, frankly, if we had written it, it would have had a much different preface. Everyone was looking for a king, and they found a baby. He wasn't at all who they expected. The Savior of the world, born in a manger, in a stable in Bethlehem? Turned away from the inn and attended by lowly shepherds? Unexpected, indeed. But that's the beauty of the Gospel. God rescued all of mankind on His own terms, in His own time. He continues His reconciliation on earth in much the same way. Subtly, surprisingly, on His own terms, in His own time. The prophet Isaiah reminds us God doesn't operate like we do. Isaiah 55:9 says, “'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts'” (NLT). Two thousand years ago He came without much fanfare. And He still comes today in the still, silent night. Slowly. Quietly. Sometimes the best gifts come in the most unexpected ways. God desires to give His children good gifts. His ways are higher, His plans infinitely better. When life gets confusing, remember that the greatest story of all time began in a manger. Actually, that's where our story began, too. God gave us His greatest gift that first Christmas. With one baby's cry, the ordinary became extraordinary. History changed forever. A silent night, quite simply, became a holy night. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, KJV) Inspired by the song Silent Night by Sanctus Real. Original post featured on YouVersion.