It had been a busy weekend.

Friday night was a birthday party for one of her classmates. Saturday there were chores around the house and Sunday morning was church time. Then came Sunday afternoon and it was time to be sure all homework was completed.

When our ten year-old granddaughter, Mary Kathryn, checked her backpack for a history book it wasn't there. That was the second or third time since school started that Mary Kathryn had forgotten a book. She had been told it was time for her to listen to her mother's teaching about being responsible for bringing home her books.

But the book was not in her backpack. What would she do?

Because her mother knew she must carry through with her teachings on responsibility, Mary Kathryn was told she would be grounded if she did not make her usual 100 on her history test.

Come Monday morning after no extra studying, her test grade was 90. It was a difficult thing for her mother to do, but she knew she must teach Mary Kathryn to pay attention about her books. In was part of the process of becoming wiser.

Sweet, gentle, Mary Kathryn who loves her mother so overwhelmingly understood the grounding and received it willingly. There was no anger or bitterness. Just a sadness that she had disappointed the one person she loves more than anyone in the world.

That night she obediently stayed away from her Barbies, the computer games, and any fun thing that normally fills her day. Her spirit was so lovable as she spent the time studying in her room, so sorry for the grief she had caused herself and her mom. Mary Kathryn was eager to prove that she is ready to pay attention and remember her homework books next time.

Sometimes, God has to ground us when we deliberately disobey his instructions. He lovingly bids us to follow his instructions so that we will become wise. Often we have our own ideas and try to put them into effect. Only to find that we have turned our back on the most ingenious thing life has to offer.

Just as Mary Kathryn's mother accepted the responsibility of teaching wisdom to her daughter, God desires to teach us to become wise. We can do that by listening to His instructions written in the Scriptures. Pay attention for God gives good guidance. It is one of the most important choices you will make in your life.