Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

Learn to accept people for who they are rather than what you wish them to be. Don't treat them like a project or a problem that needs to be solved. Love them first and continue to love them with God's love.

To love someone is not to overlook their flaws or shortcomings. Rather, we rest on God's grace to develop the ability to see beyond a person's imperfections and focus on the intrinsic worth God bestowed upon them through Christ. This enables us to be accepting without being judgemental, truthful without being hurtful, and caring without imposing.

According to the Apostle Peter, we are to reflect God's love in all our relationships. "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins," he remarked, quoting Proverbs 10:2. In Hebrew, "cover" is kacah, which also means "concealing." Concealing is used positively in this verse, as in forgiving and not keeping a record of wrongs, rather than negatively, as if there is an evil intention to hide something.

Jesus is the perfect example of a love powerful enough to atone for a multitude of sins. He modelled how we should engage with those around us. He did not treat people as they deserved to be treated. Instead, despite the fact that they were completely undeserving of forgiveness and mercy, He freely and willingly gave His life for them.

We can learn from Jesus to be both forgiving and reconciling.

Many of us find it difficult to forgive, let alone forget, the hurt and wrong done to us. Stop rehearsing the pain, so that healing can begin. Instead of attempting to forgive on your own power, recognise that you are in desperate need of God's healing grace to help you in making the necessary changes in your attitude and approach as you work towards reconciliation and closure.

God wants us to be like Him, and He will give us grace to imitate Him in every way.