October 28, 2024 
By M. Regina Cram
Our daughter Meredith came tearing into this world entirely bald. I don’t mean she had cute, downy fuzz on her head. She didn’t have so much as a sprig. By the toddler years, strangers frequently asked if she was undergoing chemo.
Fortunately, Meredith was gorgeous. She’s still gorgeous. Even as a young child, Meredith never met a man she didn’t like, and she had a special penchant for grandfather types, many of whom spontaneously called her Curly in honor of the bald member of the Three Stooges. The nickname stuck.
In kindergarten, it wasn’t unusual for boys to line up at the coat hooks to be Meredith’s boyfriend. Sometimes, a new boy assumed the role just minutes after the predecessor’s heart had been broken. This drama continued until more mature romances began in middle school – you know, the kind that takes half the class to orchestrate and lasts about three days.
Meredith is now an adult with a full head of hair. She’s a Latin scholar, trained lifeguard, and accomplished artist. In her spare time, I’m pretty sure she dated half the guys in the tri-state area.
So what does a girl like this do with her life?
She enters the convent.
If you think the convent is only for women who can’t snag a husband or find a better paying job, think again. The sisters I’ve met are remarkable people. One sister is so spunky, I can picture her in pigtails, hanging upside down from a tree branch. pitching acorns at schoolmates. Another sister is a brilliant surgeon. We’re talking about funny, fascinating women.
While many people greeted Meredith’s decision with joy, a surprising number reacted with disapproval. “You’re throwing your life away!” one person chided. “You could do so much more!” as if there’s a calling more satisfying than saving souls.
The reaction that most irritated me, however, was, “What a shame. She’s such a pretty girl.” What’s the message – that God only uses ugly people?
Nothing could be farther from the truth. Consecrated life is not a cosmic booby prize. In Meredith’s case, entering the convent was not so much something she chose for herself, but something she believed God was calling her to.
And so it was that Meredith began her life at the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth, a convent that overflows with joy.
May God bless you and keep you, my little one.
Postscript
After 18 months as Sister Francesca, Meredith realized that, while it’s a beautiful life, the convent was not the place for her. She rejoined our noisy, messy family, worked for a while, then returned to college to complete her degree. Eventually she fell in love, got married, and is now the mother of two children.
She still cherishes the time she spent in the convent.
As for me, I have profound respect for her willingness to give up everything in order to pursue Christ.
We love you, Sister Curly.
M. Regina Cram is a published author and parishioner of SS. Isidore and Maria Parish.
