eWell: December 8, 2010

Kathryn Rigsby

My name is Kathryn Rigsby and I am currently obtaining a second bachelor's degree at the Florida State University in Information Technology. My first degree was in Italian language with a minor in Education. Throughout the past few years I have really struggled with religion so to speak and just having a difficult time understanding who I really am. I grew up going to church and did the whole "religion thing." It was not until high school that I became a believer in Jesus. High school came and went and college began. I still went to church and participated in church functions, but it had somehow become more of a social gathering to me. In time, I distanced myself and stopped going to church. I had truly lost sight of why I believed in God; I was not content with what I had and thought I could do better, but God was patient and never deserted me. God is always there, waiting for us to come to Him. He loves us unconditionally, even when we do not give ourselves to Him. Hebrews 13:5 says: "Keep your life free from love of money and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'."

Looking back on those years now, God was working on me all along, even when I was not obedient to Him. There were consequences, but just as in the story of Jonah, God was not punishing me, He was trying to rescue me, to save me from myself. I'm sure some of you have felt just like me, thinking I can do this little thing called life. No big deal, I got this! Well, the answer is, "Wrong!" I cannot do this thing called life without God. If we could go through life alone, God would not have had to send His one and only son to die on the cross. God loves us so much that He did send His one and only son to die on the cross, so that we may spend eternity with our Heavenly Father.

I was listening to Dean Martin the other day and "Return to Me" began to play. As he began to sing the words I began thinking of how God patiently waited for me, whispering "Ritorna a me Cara mia, ti amo, solo tu, solo tu, solo tu, Mio cuore." In English, this translates to "Return to me, my dear, only you, only you, only you, my love." I have come to learn that who I am is a child of God and that He wants me to come to Him. John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. If you do not believe in God or like me, have struggled; He wants us to come to Him, He sent His one and only son to die on the cross for us. He's waiting and whispering: "Ritorna a me Cara mia, ti amo, solo tu, solo tu, solo tu, Mio cuore."