Nurturing Jesus

Today's brief Gospel from Luke mentions the outcry of the woman who praised the one who nurtured and mothered Jesus:  "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed."  Jesus answered, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."  (Lk 11:27-28).  Yes, he turns the nurturing task to us.  Just how do we nurture Christ in ourselves, in others?  How do we teach others to pray, for example?  How do we pray ourselves?  Parents are the first prayer teachers, for sure...and can work marvels in the lives of their innocent, receptive children.  Simplicity is the key...directness, conversational tone...all nurturing trust and confidence and the approachability of God.  Somewhow, as adults we lose this childlike approach and add endless words upon endless words.  Or, we simply mouth words from rote, rather than speak from the heart.  We all do this.  It might help if we truly STOP before we rush into "saying our prayers" and recall WHO we are speaking to, and make an effort to lay aside pretention and simply pray from the heart. Our own way of praying is what we model for others, how we teach them what prayer is, and how to pray.  Jesus my brother, teach me to be a nurturer of you in myself  and in others. Amen.
Bro. Rene