Laila Short

Let her sleep. For when she wakes, she will move mountains." And move them she did. In the same way the ocean has no choice in whether or not it crashes back to the sandy banks, Laila Short had no choice but to change the world. Her own small mountains were moved every time she took a breath of God's air. For when she would wake, she would hop out of bed and rush to the kitchen in bare feet, her mind awhirl with perhaps the fresh images of a fairytale dream to share with her family or a story from the day before to tell everyone. She would chatter inquisitively, innocently speaking of questions she'd like to ask God when she met him, of places she'd like to see, of things she'd like to change. Her family. Her adoring, doting, listening and loving support system. A Mountain. Then she would head off to school, begrudgingly putting on a pair of shoes, the ever symbolic ball and chain to the wild and sweet freedom of a spunky eleven-year-old girl. She would own every pair of eyes and every heart as she walked through the door of her classroom, donning a smile that could put the sun to shame. Beneath that smile, a heart ready to love every person staring back at her. Eleven-year-olds are not known typically for their empathy but Laila was not a typical eleven-year-old. Young hands, clean from the wear and tear of life and age, clutching her class superlative. "Most Compassionate." A Mountain. The way she left her beauty scattered behind her in the wake of her small young steps. The way her bright electric blue eyes would shine at the prospect of a new friend, an exciting game of Rugby, a chance to see her family, a chance to give a tight hug to someone with a loose grip on life and hope. So many mountains. It is my humble opinion that God lays before us a life of mountains and says "Move as many as you can." He asks us to Serve, to Love, to Trust, to Change. And I believe our Laila passed his expectations with flying colors in her short time on this earth. Perhaps she is needed now for a special job in heaven. One for a professional mountain mover, if you will. So I say, as she enters the pearly gates of our Father above, adjoining hands with our sweet grandmother who passed before her and who will welcome her Home- let her no longer sleep. Let her wake in the love of Christ, the power of God, the consumption of the Spirit, and let her keep moving those mountains of injustice and pain and hopelessness on earth through her power as our beautiful angel above. Laila Cathryn Short, 11, of Monroe, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Sunday, May 17, 2017. She is the daughter of Richard P. Short and Kathryn (Kat) Short and the sister of Storm Newcomb and Ty Short. Laila attended Poplin Elementary School where she was in the 5th grade. In lieu of flowers, please remember Leila and the family through your generous donations to Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte. - Visitation Details Friday, May 26th, 2017 6:00pm - 7:30pm, Mill Grove United Methodist Church

Service Information

Friday, May 26th, 2017 7:30pm, Mill Grove United Methodist Church Interment Details A Private Family Gathering will be held at a later date.