As we enter upon Advent, we remember the gift God has given us in sending us His Son.  One of the great hymns from this season reminds us to recognize Who this is.  He Who came from all eternity to meet us in the fullness of time, through Mary who was made full of grace.  He Who stripped Himself of glory to come among us as one of us, so we could become like Him.  But the question can go the other way as well: will He recognize us as His own?  What child, or whose child are we?  Do people see us as godly people, as Christians?  Do we know Him Who was sent, and can people tell that we know Him personally?  He Who is Love has taken to Himself a human heart, that our hearts may know His love, may know Him Who is Love.  God has become accessible in Christ.  How much do we give Him access to our hearts and lives?  The eternal Creator, becomes Emmanuel, God with us, to meet us where we are, even in the midst of our suffering, so we may be changed.  How much has this made a difference in our lives?  We re-live this season every year to remember what Child this is, and the great love that brought Him from eternity to earth; to remember who we are not, but who we are meant to be by His grace, so we may be recognized as His own, especially by Him who wants us to be with Him forever.  In Advent, the beginning of the new year in the Church, let’s renew our relationship with Him, so we may know Him, and be known by Him.