On Being Blessed

I've spent way too much time today on this and was going to simply not write anything, but I feel I should write something.  I obviously failed at reflecting on a more consistent basis.  But again, I think I may have solved this and hopefully I can get to this at least a few times each week.  This time I've set aside time each day at work.

Scripture 
Luke 11:27-28

While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Observation
I picked this verse because this struck me as, wow, is this down-playing Jesus' mother and her role?  And I started doing research and this is where I spent a lot of time on this.  I was then going to avoid this verse as it is controversial but decided what the heck.  Mary is a very important figure to Catholics as well as Orthodox and some Protestant churches.  I found out that this is the verse that many non-Catholics use to down play Mary, mother of God.  Depending on the translation, some Bibles will show some affirmative in Jesus' reply in the form of something like "Yea, rather..." or similar (KJV).  Jesus affirms that his mother is blessed, but he goes deeper to say that hearing the word of God and observing the word is being blessed and that's what's important to us. The Greek word used there is an affirmative word to what the woman is saying.  Also, just a few chapters back you have the passage that states that all generations will call her blessed.  So Jesus is not contradicting scripture or saying that Mary is not important here.  But he is explaining how we can be blessed which is deeper and more important to us than simply stating the fact that Mary is blessed.  Which is kind of a "duh, of course she is, but if you want to know how you can be blessed, here's the formula."

Application
Sometimes we worry too much about other people when we need to first look at how we are.  How we are observing God's word and how we are obeying Jesus.  It's easy to point fingers at others and to see greatness in others without realizing that those who are wicked and those are blessed won't help my salvation at all so I should be focused on what's important first, my soul. I struggle with this as I can easily say that I care more for my children's souls than my own, or my wife's soul.  I want to put them first even before myself.  But I can't really help them, until I have helped myself.

Prayer
Lord, help me listen to you and to do your will always.  Help me understand you so I can then help my family understand you.  Help me to do your will so I can help my family do your will.  I pray that you guide me and protect me from those who would wish to do me evil. Be my guard, for no evil can surpass you.  Amen.