There is a famous Chassidic story that goes as follows:

Young Dov Ber was the son of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the saintly author of the Tanya. It was Shabbat and Dov Ber stood quietly in the synagogue to hear the reading of the Torah portion of Ki Tavo. Usually it was his father, the Rebbe, who read from the Torah, but this week his father was away and the Torah was read by someone else. Suddenly Dov Ber began to cry. The words being read were harsh. They spoke of punishments and tragedy. Dov Ber could not contain himself and continued to weep long after the reading was complete. In fact, he was so distraught that he became ill and the doctors were not sure that he would be able to fast on Yom Kippur a few weeks later. The synagogue members were confused by his reaction. "Dov Ber, you hear these words being read every year. Why only this year did you react so severely?" Dov Ber responded, "When Father reads, I don't hear curses."

What did he hear if not harsh words? He read from the same Torah, and sang the same verses in the same cantorial tune. But Dov Ber could pick up the subtleties in his father's voice that were inaudible to the common ear. The young boy – who would grow up to be a great Rebbe in his own right – perceived these predictions of misfortune to be words of blessing.