I Rather You Be My Guest......

I love watching my boys play sports.  I especially love it when they are both on the same team.  When they let their guard down and forget that they are "brothers", their play compliments one another.  Yesterday's basketball game was no exception....One was quick to set the "pick" and allow the other to drive in for the layup.  One is good to take the ball into the paint and then toss it to his brother at the 3 point line.  It is like watching an athletic ballet....

And, when they work together....it is powerful.

Interesting to me at yesterday's game was instead of the scoreboard saying "Home" and "Visitor" it said..."Home" and "Guest".  I found that intriguing...and, frankly, more polite...more kind.  I would much rather be someone's guest than just a mere Visitor....Why is that??

We discussed in the car on the way home why it is more fun being the "HOME" team.....their are definitely advantages on the court, field, etc. when you are the Home team.  Then, we discussed the differences between being a "Visitor" versus being a "Guest".  

We mutually agreed that being a Visitor seemed short lived and un-committed, maybe even a "one timer"  whereas being someone's Guest implied a relationship which was more involved...both from the "Home" perspective and the "Guest's" perspective.  You prepare for a Guest...a Visitor just shows up.

This discussion lasted all of about 5 minutes before they were ready to move to another favorite topic, "girls"...Twenty-four hours later, we are still talking about girls...Home versus Guest long forgotten.

But, at church today, our minister discussed the difference between "Guest" and "Visitor" and it re-surfaced our conversation.  I agree with him....I would much rather be a Guest in someone's home...than a visitor.

Being your guest implies that you Want me in your presence, you have prepared for me, you have sought out my company.  You prepare for a guest; clean sheets on the bed, nice home-cooked meal (or pizza from Dominoes with your favorite toppings), maybe even a real dessert.  When I am your guest, you generally slow down long enough to talk with me...no tv, no texting, no facebooking...you put your best effort into insuring that I feel welcome and cared about.

Mr. Webster says that a Guest is a "companion"...whereas he says a Visitor is  "transient"...

Both Guest and Visitor have their value....one might need to be a Visitor...occasions in life make visiting essential; however, whenever possible, I want you to be my treasured Guest...

My challenge for you....take the time to prepare for someone and them make them your Guest. 

It may be a weekend guest experience, or it may be what I share with a friend today...the two of us sitting on a pew at church sharing from the heart.....

Blessings,

Lesa