It was a beautiful day and the little girl stood in the middle of the corral holding a rope halter in her hand.  Behind her a frightened mustang colt tossed his unkempt mane and snorted.   The colt had been rescued from a run down ranch a few miles away.  He was all bones and had obviously been abused by his previous owners.  The colt was terrified of the little girl, and he didn't trust her.  The little girl did not look at him but she could hear him trotting back and forth in fear, pawing the ground, tossing his head, snorting his distrust.  Then it was quiet.  The girl strained her ears to hear him but there was not a sound.  She didn't glance back because she knew that he was there.  She could feel his presence.  Silent but watchful, curious but unmoving, waiting for her to turn on him.  The girl stood still.  The colt stood still.  Neither moved toward eachother.  The girl knew that her motives were good but she knew if she moved, the colt would run.  She waited.  Time ticked away.  Nearly an hour passed and the girl was unsure if the colt was awake or asleep but she didn't turn to face him.  Then she heard what she had been waiting for.  The colt took a single step forward and then stopped.  Another step forward.  Then another.  Curiousity and wonder had gotten the best of the colt.  He wanted to know who this human was.  Closer and closer, head down, the colt moved forward.  Then, the warm breath of the colt blew into the girl's hand as he sniffed at the rope halter.  Still the girl didn't move.  A little nibble at the rope, a sniff at her yellow hair, a nibble and a toss of her straw hat.  The colt nudged the girls arm and she lifted it slowly.  She glanced over her shoulder at the young horse and their eyes met.  The girl reached her hand gently upward to the colt's forelock and stroked gently along the white star that graced his bony forehead.  Gently and slowly, they met eachother.  The girl did not try to put the halter on the young, frightened colt that day.  But each day she went to the corral and stood in the middle with her back to the colt.  Each day she allowed the colt to come to her at his own pace, and each day, the colt came over to her quicker because he had learned he could trust her.  Each day they got to know each other a little better as he learned her voice, her smell, her touch.  One day, the colt came to her quickly and eagerly, he loved the way she stroked his forehead and scratched his ears and today he was rewarded with a delicious carrot.  What enjoyment that was for him.  The next day the girl fed him another carrot and opened up the halter so he could see it.  She rubbed it against his cheek and neck allowing him to get used to the feel of it, she talked to him and stroked his forehead.  It wasn't long before the halter was on the colt and he didn't even seem to notice.  Not because he couldn't feel it's strange weight on him, but because he knew it would not hurt him.  Why?  Because this girl who had been a stranger days before, was now his friend.

This is how I see a relationship developing betweeen God and a person who has the desire to know Him.  God does not force himself on you.  He has all of these wonderful gifts for you but He wants you to come closer and get to know Him personally so that you will trust Him.  His word sits on your bookshelf or on your nightstand waiting for you to pick it up so he can speak to you.  You can pray day and night good, bad, sad or praise but if you never stop and allow Him to talk to you, how is that relationship supposed to grow?  How many friends do you have that when you are together, only one of you talks the entire time?  Who could maintain a relationship like that?  God wants to share your life with you not just be a sounding board.  Take a step closer to Him each day by reading a couple of chapters of the Bible until you have read it completely through.  Don't worry if you don't undestand it all.  He will bless you with understanding when you are ready for that part.  Keep reading and soon you will find portions that are speaking directly to you.  Portions that answer your questions, comfort your spirit, teach you something you never knew.  It can be fun, exciting and so comforting!  When you are done, start all over again because each time you read the bible, you will be at a different stage in your life and it will say something completely different.  It is not intended to be a burden to get to know Him....but a Joy.   Don't be afraid, just take one step at a time.