In 1995, while residing in Naples with two young children and deeply involved in planting a new church, I made the decision to pursue a Doctoral degree. Our family’s relocation to Naples involved extensive hospitality, preparing meals, visiting people, and hosting others for weeks on end. It was a time of significant dedication and hard work.

Amidst these commitments, I strongly felt it was time to pursue a degree in Economics. My aim was to share the Gospel with university students, and what better way to do so than by enrolling in the university myself?

When I discussed this with my husband, he pointed out the multitude of challenges I would face. First and foremost, Italy had very low completion statistics for doctoral degrees at that time. Back then, you had to enroll in a Doctoral program as there were no bachelor’s or master’s degrees available. This meant 5-7 years of relentless work to graduate, including writing a dissertation. Classes were overcrowded, often accommodating up to 400 students at a time. There was frequently no available seating if one arrived late. Professors typically lectured for 2 hours non-stop. In antique classrooms with no air conditioning or heaters, it was challenging to stay alert. Moreover, many exams were oral, and the professor had complete control over your grades.

Moreover, we lived uptown in Naples, while my university was (and still is) located in front of the port, housed in the beautiful Castle Maschio Angioino overlooking the gulf. There were only 6 miles between my home and the port, but in the narrow, overcrowded streets of Naples filled with cars, motorbikes, and everything in between, the commute could easily take 1 hour or more. Not to mention, there was no parking available! Therefore, driving was not an option. I needed to take public transportation every day to attend my classes. For me, that meant taking a bus, the metro, and the funicular, and then walking to the university. If I was lucky, I could make it in 50 minutes.
My husband asked, “Would you be willing to commit to such a long journey despite all these hardships, not to mention the time needed for study, while raising two young children and being fully involved in Ministry?” After spending more time in prayer, I felt it was the right thing to do. I decided to adopt a “just look down” approach, moving forward one step at a time until I finished.

Two years later, I became pregnant again. However, my pregnancy was high-risk, requiring me to stay in bed for months. During that year, I enrolled in a class that allowed me to study mostly at home from books (three large books on Private Law). Despite this, I still needed to make the trip to the University for the oral exam, which took more than 5 hours of waiting to be interrogated by 5 different professors. I did pass the exam with good grades, but the day after, my water broke prematurely (again!), and I had to be taken to the hospital for delivery.

Now, I still had four more years to go… and three little children to look after. I was breastfeeding Jonathan. During that first year after he was born, I took him with me to the University, finding a place in the crowded university to breastfeed, taking him with me to classes, and managing to take notes while sitting whenever I found a space while holding my baby.

In 2002, seven years later, I finally graduated. I was the first graduate among all my friends (each person could go at their own pace). I just couldn’t believe it! Looking back, with all my kids and my husband around me, I thanked God. I remembered the long nights when everyone in my household was in bed and I was studying, the trips downtown to classes, the long days writing a dissertation (which even received honors). It was a long journey.

Why am I telling this story? Because that journey reminds me of the dedication needed in my walk with the Lord.

Seeking God’s kingdom demands even greater dedication. When we become Christians and get baptized, we dedicate our lives to the Lord and enroll in the University of the Kingdom. However, as we progress, our commitment often weakens. We become distracted by other aspects of our lives: relationships, careers, or simply, material possessions.

Just as with my university journey, I would only receive my degree if I successfully completed ALL my courses and my dissertation. Similarly, we need to persevere until the end. Today, recommit to completing the course, giving your very best. Do not settle for mediocrity in your Christian life. Walk with dedication in your journey with the Lord.

Share your insights, experiences, and perspectives in the comments. Your voice is an important part of this conversation, and we would love to hear from you.