Misperception

True story: A few years ago while I was working as a nanny in the DC area I started going to a Bible study at a nearby church. I would then go out to dinner with the people afterwards where we would often engage in various theological discussions. At one of these dinners the topic of the tension between the desire to relax and enjoy the things of this world versus the importance of ministry came up. I had recently heard a John Piper sermon where he talked about the pilgrim/indigenous principle, so I endeavored to explain it. After I was done, I had apparently done a better job then expected as the man who had posed the question responded, "Wow, you're really articulate for a nanny." The table was silent for a moment to see if he could get his foot out of his mouth... and then I burst out laughing.
I have been in situations where the misperceptions were not so funny... where  quite frankly they stung. Those comments from someone who has missed your heart and attributed a bad motive. Yeah, there are some done out of total ignorance that can be ignored, but the ones that sting... wow, they sting.
When someone hits you with a comment that misses, I think you have some choices...
1. You can acknowledge the hurt (whether intentional or unintentional). We are not made of stone and sometimes the words said by those around us have a greater impact then we realize.
2. You can see if it hit personal insecurities - sometimes they do. Sometimes they hit an issue where we don't feel confident and wish we portrayed a character trait better. In that case, we have the chance to repent - we can turn and look at God's view of us and find rest, security and hope in the truth of his word.
3.  You can forgive the person - yeah, it may have stung, but God calls us to forgive. And for no other reason then that, we should.