How Do You Repair Relationships With Estranged Children?

Our children come through us, but they have free will to make their own choices in life. We as parents may strongly disapprove of their lifestyle choices, and we become angry and disappointed when our children don't follow the path we had in mind for them. Some disputes can cause so much anger that parents and their teenage or adult children stop speaking to each other for weeks, months, even years. How do we take that first step toward reconciliation with our children after hostile arguments have pushed us apart? How do we forgive what we may perceive as rebellion and disrespect in order to rebuild relationships with our children?