Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12).

A person's perspective makes all the difference in the world.

If someone is starting from a place of distrust, bitterness, and hatred, then even the tiniest remark or insinuation of emotion on a person's face will be immediately seized upon as a challenge.  Anything can serve as a trigger:  a Facebook status update... the punctuation or phrasing within an e-mail... a lift of the eyebrows... an off-handed comment... a "Hello" not spoken with enough conviction... Honestly, it wouldn't even matter if the "challenge" came in the form of a bouquet of roses delivered with a bow of the knee and a flourish of the hands.  If a person is starting from a place of distrust, bitterness, and hatred, even the kindest of gestures would be interpreted as a provocation.  The hater would probably even view the roses as a sarcastic gesture.  So it goes.  Hatred stirs up dissension.

However, if someone is starting from a place of trust, affection, and love, then it's remarkable how much incidental, accidental insult can be absorbed.  Words and actions which would, under normal circumstances, be considered as astonishingly rude -- harsh words... suspicious looks... inconsiderate gestures... short, cold communication -- can be taken in stride.  Even if you were to bake a cake for someone and they were to receive it with a scowl and a direct statement of, "You used too much vanilla" -- it wouldn't matter.  The incident could be laughed off and forgotten within moments of its happening.  If a person is starting from a place of trust, affection, and love, even the gravest offenses can be overcome.  The lover might even view the cake-baking insult as something "cute" or "quirky" behavior of their friend.  So it goes.  Love covers over all wrongs.

A person's perspective makes all the difference in the world.