Making Amends

Jesus said, “So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” God cannot accept the works of the flesh. It is only the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is acceptable to Him (see Galatians 5:22-23). Whoever offers an apology and who it is that accepts, BOTH are required to manifest the Spirit of God and His working to have this be an act of Forgiveness. See below in the translation—once this occurred the person could partake in the general blessing(s) of being an Israelite, which was effected personally and corporately via the overnight burning of the burnt offering. This offering had nothing to do with atonement of sin; it was the covenant relationship of being God's people and their blessing God.

“Leviticus 6:4-11 Once he has sinned and acknowledged [his] guilt—he must return what he stole or defrauded, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost item he found, or anything else about which he swore falsely. He must make full restitution for it and add a fifth of its value to it. He is to pay it to its owner on the day he acknowledges [his] guilt. Then he must bring his restitution offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, according to your valuation, as a restitution offering to the priest. In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt." The LORD spoke to Moses: "Command Aaron and his sons: This is the law of the burnt offering; the burnt offering itself must remain on the altar's hearth all night until morning, while the fire of the altar is kept burning on it. The priest is to put on his linen robe and linen undergarments. He is to remove the ashes of the burnt offering the fire has consumed on the altar, and place them beside the altar. Then he must take off his garments, put on other clothes, and bring the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place.” Holman Christian Standard Bible

To reconcile with someone in Old Testament times would bring opportunity again for full relationship with God. Jesus even taught going "to the brother first" when an offering was to be made to the Father. It does not need to be a painful experience! Merely ask God in prayer beforehand that the Holy Spirit make His presence known in this reconciliation, and all will go well. You shall find yourself with the right words to say, and the other will be gracious in accepting. Then you will once again enjoy your relationship to God in an unhampered way!
Write to me your story of a serious reconciliation, and I'll try to print it here.