Also emotional and spiritual, but essentially physical

That's what being human means.

It starts with a spark, a physical attraction between man and woman

God drawing them into a relationship

Which is nurtured, managed and expressed

for their own, each other's and their mutual growth

Becoming fully human, fully alive.

Family life is flesh and blood, real-life practical.

It is sensual.

It is about smell. Smelling roses, baby freshness, an enticing cooking aroma.

It is about taste; mom's best ever chocolate cake, a delicious bottle of wine,

It is about sight; beauty in its male and female forms,

The smiles and dimples

The looks of pride, anxiety or joy.

It is about hearing too; the sound of music in a loved one's voice

A cry, despairing, panick-stricken, lonely or just plain sad.

It is about touch; the delicately sensual

The agonisingly painful

The tentatively tender

The softly soothing.

Isn't that why the Word was made flesh

And dwelt amongst us in a human family,

The Holy Family of Nazareth.

May each family become a holy family.