Tara Lee Short

Moses brought forth the Law - Jesus brings forth Grace. The law sets a moral and spiritual foundation, highlighting humanity’s struggle to achieve God’s holiness independently.

Romans 3:20 states, “Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.”

The Scriptures reveal that due to our inability to fully adhere to the law, God graciously provided salvation through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 proclaims, “For it is by Grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Faith must persist even in the aftermath of tragedy, just as it did before.

John, Margaret, and family. We come together once more – perhaps not in the manner we anticipated or desired. I never imagined I would be the one to deliver a eulogy at Tara’s funeral.

We were so different; our paths often clashed. One person questioned my presence at the funeral. I came for them: for my wife, for my mother-in-law, for my father-in-law, and most importantly, for Tara.

I believed Tara saw herself as a victim – a perspective I could never adopt. I grappled with her views and opinions on life. Yet, one thing many of you may not realize is that I admired her.

I told Dawn when we first met that I was humbled by Tara’s acts of sacrifice. She moved to Spokane to care for her dying sister and raise her children.

She gave up her own life, her own plans, without knowing what the future held. This was a remarkable feat for someone in her early 20s. I doubt I could have done the same, no matter how much I wish I could.

What did that single act mean? For Dawn's three children, it represented many things – a chance for stability, it meant unconditional love – it allowed them to embrace their childhood.

To friends and family, Tara listened with her heart. She remembered and cherished the small details, and she made time when it truly mattered. She provided support without needing to be asked. She had a unique gift for making others feel acknowledged—truly acknowledged—and appreciated for who they were.

She celebrated your successes like they were her own. During challenging times, she demonstrated her support in ways that resonated more than any spoken words. I gained so much wisdom from her.

She also provided us with a blueprint for living with kindness, loving selflessly, and being present even when life becomes difficult. Her voice may not have been the most prominent in the room, and she might have stood just outside the limelight, yet the warmth she radiated extended far and wide.

Her absence will be profoundly felt. There will always be an empty chair at the table, a silent space where her laughter once filled the air.

We will cherish her memory—in the stories we continue to share, the kindness we model, the compassion we extend, the joy we experience together, and in those quiet moments where love speaks the loudest.

Though she entered my life through family ties, she will remain in my heart because of the way she lived. That connection will never fade.

John and Margaret, this was not how it was meant to be; a child should outlive their parent. I understand the pain, and I yearn for the day we will reunite with them, yet it hurts to know they will never return to us. But remember this: they are in the care of our Lord, waiting for us.

It is God's wish for us to continue living, no matter how difficult it may seem. You can give without love, but you cannot love without giving – Tara truly understood this.

You have some incredible children; you will leave behind a lasting legacy. One day, you will hear the words, “Job well done.” As much as we seek answers to this tragedy, we must have faith that God's grace will guide us from this place of struggle, of feeling shattered or incomplete—to a new, redeemed and perfected place. A place of Grace.

Lastly, Tara, I apologize for my perception of you, and I pray for God's Grace – I recognize that through your life, I have been shown the need for change. Perhaps that is the greatest gift you have left each of us. You will be loved and missed.