Karen A Jones

How do you recount a life in just a few simple words? Our dear sweet mother has departed this world for a better one. That could sum up a life pretty quick. One could recount Karen’s girls and find five beautiful, strong-willed, generous women, their husbands, a passel of cherished grandchildren, and even greatly loved great grandchildren and say she had a rich life. It seems to quick, too clean to really understand our loss.

We speak of God, and how a person will walk with Him now that they have left our company. That our mother is in the arms of Jesus now, but really that reunion looks much different to this family. Karen is going to a celebration with all of those she said goodbye to on Earth. Eight sons she never saw grow into men, three husbands, lovers, a mother and father, and countless other relatives. But now that she is there, what is the party about?

Because of Karen Jones we learned about what it looks like to live a life of faith. How many times did she forgive? Love freely? Give of her self? Make someone welcome? Feed, clothe, do for the least of these? The answer is every singe time God asked it of her, and without reservation. It is said that the rich give what they can afford, but the poor give what they have. Period. We have watched our mother’s love grow to fit the available space, every time there was a dire family emergency, and shrink to fit the available space when someone needed quiet comforting words with mom. She imparted wisdom, first aide, and tough love in doses suited to the occasion (bacon being used as medicine for many such moments). Not to mention the abandoned or orphaned animals she nursed to wellness.

Yes, when Karen got to Heaven there was a celebration for the life she lived. Back on Earth we are left with the memories. The lessons she imparted, the food she taught us to cook, the sarcasm in which we are well versed, and laughter that gave levity to even the worst of situations all point the way to who we are because of Karen. We are strong because that is how you raise young women. My mother’s parting words to the rest of the world:
Live-strong
Love-hard
Laugh-often… or at least hard enough to pee your pants

I love you more than cake Mom.