Crumpling Paper Into Tissue

The thought occurs to me that the elders of old, in this dispensation, were markedly more harsh and direct with their communications. I've noticed, over generations, the messages have gotten more and more gentle and tactful. My theory concerning this is that so-called "tough love" made sense to people, back then, because love and family ties were implicit, even if the word was rarely spoken. They went through harsh times, so they only knew what was harsh, yet they carried on in love and loyalty.

At present, there are too many families who are scattered or loveless, and too many children who have endured the worst from parents or parent figures. There are too many hardened hearts against authority because there are too many hardened hearts who have authority. Thus, the tough love of the past would just be more of the same, and it would sound more like the offenders in the lives of the broken and the angry than genuine leaders of the church of Jesus Christ.

It would be easier for a tree to grow from a planted stone than a testimony from a stony soul. Because a seed can break off its shell and grow, but a stone will simply break into dust.