My older brother Vaden recently went to be with the Lord. When I was asked to preach at his funeral service, I began to think back on our lives together as brothers. Precious memories flooded my mind. I was blessed to be born into a family with parents who really loved me and loved God with all of their hearts. Vaden and I were the last children at home after our older brother Elmer and our sister Jewel got married, and we were especially close.
Something To Hold On To
Growing up, I was a stutterer, and I was often the object of other children’s ridicule. In the midst of that, Vaden became my protector and encourager. The hardest day of my life was the day I started school. The teacher called on me to say my name. I stood up and tried to say Granville Oral Roberts, but the words choked in my throat—I couldn’t get them out. The children and the teacher laughed at me, and when they did a terrible thing happened on the inside of me.
But my brother Vaden led me outside the school and said some prophetic words to me: “Oral, some day you’ll talk and you won’t stutter.” Not only did Vaden protect me from the bullies, but he constantly spoke words of life to my mind and heart. He gave me something to hold on to.
Destiny-Changers
At age 17 I was brought home from a basketball tournament in the final stages of tuberculosis. My parents tenderly cared for me, and it was through their love and prayers that I came to accept Jesus as my Savior. Later Jewel spoke words that gave me hope. She said, “Oral, God is going to heal you.” Then Elmer drove me to a healing service in a borrowed car. He had to carry me inside because I had lost the power to walk. When Rev. George Munsey laid his hands on me at the service and prayed the prayer of faith, suddenly my lungs opened up and I could breathe again! Words began flowing out of my mouth, and for the first time, I could speak clearly! I was gloriously healed!
During the next year, Vaden and others in my family spoke words of encouragement into my life, telling me that now I really could amount to something. They believed in the call of God on my life.
The Ultimate Gift
Vaden loved God but had never accepted Christ as his Savior. Once, after I had begun my healing ministry, I was in the middle of a service and saw a man come walking down the aisle toward me. As he got closer, I realized it was Vaden. He threw his arms around me and began weeping, saying, “Oral, I want to accept Christ…and I can’t wait until you finish preaching!” Vaden was gloriously saved that night. I was able to help lead my brother–who had spoken such encouragement into my life–into the greatest miracle of all, eternal life.
The last time I saw Vaden he said, “Oral, I’ve got to go,” as he pointed upward. “You know what that means, don’t you? I’ll meet you on the other side.” I said, “Yes, Vaden. I’ll meet you there because we both have Jesus and eternal life.”
The Power of Your Words
Many people don’t know the power of encouragement, especially to someone who is sick or hurting in some way. The Bible teaches that the words we speak can be a powerful source for bad or for good. According to Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Just like Richard Roberts, let’s make the words we speak a source of good to those around us.
Encouragement can mean everything to your life. I know. Because it meant everything to me.
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