Leslie Anne Tarabella Southern With a Gulf Coast Accent

The quote below from Andy Andrews’ Instagram page reminded me of a story about my cousin, Dr. Kenneth Harrison, who passed away last January at the age of 92. 

My father’s first cousin, Kenneth Harrison, was raised on a farm, then attended Florida State University where he earned a degree in chemistry and later enrolled in seminary for theological studies. He then worked in Africa and the Philippines, in Agricultural Missions—offering practical farming advice and help while also ministering to the spiritual needs of local communities.

When Kenneth returned to the United States, he served as the pastor of several churches. But once retired, became a regular church member who wasn’t about to slow down.

The pastor tried to stall him so he could think of a way to say, “no thank you.”  It wasn’t just Kenneth’s age that worried him, but Kenneth had also suffered a devastating tractor accident years earlier that left him without fingers on his right hand. Never mind that he’d be the oldest member of the group, but how could he possibly handle tools or even carry his own suitcase? The pastor consulted Kenneth’s daughter, Lona, who said, “of course he can do it!” 

This past January, at Kenneth’s funeral, this same pastor recounted the moment on that trip to Maine when he looked up at a house they were repairing. “There was Kenneth,” he said, “going up and down the ladder, and hammering shingles on the roof, working as hard as anyone else.”

He ended his story by saying; On the final day of the trip, the group took a canoe ride down a river—one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever seen. The water was crystal-clear, reflecting the mountains on both sides like a postcard. We all drifted in silence, overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty, and then, from the back of the group, Kenneth’s voice rang out, singing:

There is a river, and it flows from deep within
There is a fountain, that frees the soul from sin
Come to this water, there is a vast supply
There is a river, that never shall run dry

Everyone at the large funeral smiled at the story. We have a singing family, so hearing that Kenneth had just the right song to sing at that moment didn’t surprise us at all.

Here’s an old photo of our family singing on the front porch of my great-grandparent’s house.

The pastor went on to say that having Kenneth on that mission trip was one of the most meaningful and beautiful experiences of his entire ministry. Everyone on the trip was inspired by his hard work and dedication. 

Andy is right, we’re never too old, too sick, too injured—or too anything—to make a difference. There’s always a role we can play in the life of someone else. 

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The song “There Is a River” was written by Max Sapp and David Sapp and recorded by the Gaither Vocal Band.

Click to follow New York Times bestselling author Andy Andrews on Instagram for more inspiration.