How To Be A Polite Guest

Did you know there are only 55 days left until Christmas? That’s only seven weekends! Not only that….there are 24 days left until Thanksgiving, which is basically the official beginning of the “Holiday Season.”

With the beginning of the holiday season comes church parties, work parties, family get-togethers, and more. I’m excited about that!

We all need to be conscientious of our holiday manners, especially as we take on the role of a guest. Here are the top 4 things that I want to remember as I’m a guest this holiday season.

1. RSVP 

You can be a gracious guest even if you’re not able to attend. If you’ve been invited somewhere, let them know as soon as possible whether or nor you’re coming. Don’t force your hostess to ask you to confirm your attendance.

2. Bring a hostess gift

Some people wonder when it’s appropriate to bring a gift. Here’s my rule of thumb – if I’ve been invited to an event where someone is the hostess, I bring a gift. That includes things like meals, parties or overnight visits in someone’s home. Even if you’re contributing to the meal, it’s still nice to bring a little something for your hostess.

Her are some hostess gift ideas:

• Fall Hostess Gift from Dollar Tree
• Homemade Granola Hostess Gift
• Hostess Gift Ideas with RefreshHer

3. Arrive on time

This is a Golden Rule issue for me. When I’m hosting a meal, I work hard to make sure everything is ready at the same time so that the food is at its best! It’s frustrating when I have to keep things warm as I wait on people to arrive. I always appreciate it when my guests are punctual and I want to extend that same courtesy to my hostess.

4. Send a thank you note 

Thank you notes don’t have to be complicated. Start the note with a compliment to the hostess – for example, “It was so thoughtful of you to invite us for dinner.” Mention something you enjoyed about the meal or evening and wrap it up with a comment like, “We are so grateful for your friendship.” You can pick up packs of nice thank you cards at Dollar Tree or the Target dollar spot.

At the very least, it’s nice to send a text to your hostess later that evening or the next day. Thank her for the meal and let her know how much you appreciated the invitation. It will mean a lot to her!

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

Happy Guesting!