BE A TOP-NOTCH GUEST Tuesday – July 6, 2010

BE A TOP-NOTCH GUEST Tuesday – July 6, 2010

“Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:9

Lizzie Post—great-great-granddaughter of etiquette expert Emily Post, has authored how to be a top-notch guest. Here are her ten suggestions:
1. Nail down the dates of the visit before you go—and stick to them. If you would like to visit for a week but suspect your hostess can only handle a three-day visit, stay with someone else for the second half of your trip.
2. Be clear about who’ll be joining you. It may be obvious to you that you would never travel without your teacup Chihuahua; you should also let your hostess know that Tinkerbell will be staying as well. The same goes for significant others and kids. Don’t say, “I’d like to come visit” if you mean “I’d like to come visit with my husband, two kids and the ferrets.”
3. Pack smart. The contents of your entire home won’t fit in a guest room, so stick to the essentials. Bring just enough clothing for the duration of your visit plus a few just-in-case items, like something to wear to a nice dinner and a light sweater in case the evenings are chilly.
4. Keep tabs on your stuff. You’re not staying in a hotel, so don’t treat your friend’s home like one. A good rule of thumb: When you’re not in your room, it should look like it did when you arrived. Put your clothes away, hang up your towel and straighten the bed every morning.
5. Follow the house rules. No shoes in the house does not mean that your flip-flops are an exception. Watch out for sneaky indoor cats when you come and go, and don’t give the dog people food, even if he’s making his I’m really hungry face.
6. Watch your children. “Just because you’re taking a vacation,” said Lizzie, “doesn’t mean you can take a vacation from parenting.”
7. Don’t expect your hostess to do all the work. She may not want you to buy groceries or lend a hand at dinnertime, but it’s important to offer. Take care of little chores, like washing the few dishes in the sink or emptying an overflowing trashcan, when your hostess isn’t around.
8. Remember that your hostess is not a tour guide. Or babysitter. If you must see the local attractions, keep in mind that your hostess has probably seen them all (several times). Plan the outings on your own and take the kids with you.
9. Don’t expect the household to suddenly revolve around you. Vegetarians don’t need to swallow a hamburger with a smile, but they shouldn’t expect their hostess and her family to stop eating meat. If you’re staying with smokers, don’t suggest they take it outside; and you can’t ask pet owners to board their four-legged family members, even if they make you sneezy. Unless you have a potentially deadly allergy—which, by all means, you should alert your hostess to—it’s up to you to adapt.
10. Bring or send a thank-you gift and follow up with a note.

When we are guests, we must be ever mindful not too be a burden to others. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for those who have the gift of hospitality and seek to be a good guest when visiting them.

“The good guest is almost invisible, enjoying him or herself, communing with fellow guests, and, most of all, enjoying the generous hospitality of the hosts” – Emily Post

God’s Word: “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8