II Chronicles 10:10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
Some where along the way young people get the idea that they should be so much tougher than those that have gone before. Maybe they do not want to be tougher on themselves but others. I made this mistake as a young preacher. I was tough on myself, my family, and all in my ministry. I took all that the older preachers had said and took it to extremes. I hurt everyone around me by this bad thinking.
Something about getting older makes us think that we should be kinder and more gentle because we have learned a few things from hurting people and the hurts that we have been through.
When I was young they said that as you get older you will mellow and then the famous preacher said that just after you mellow you rot and are no good to the ministry. I took that seriously and so deeply regret it today. I followed blindly what others told me.
Listen to the older wiser men that say, don’t be so tough, don’t be so hard. If you do have to be touch on something make sure it is just very seldom. Be kind. Be gentle and the people will love you!