Come, Stay, Leave

One of my birthday presents included a handmade plaque with this Icelandic saying on it.

Come, those who wish to come. Stay, those who wish to stay.

Leave, those who wish to leave. (Without harm to me or mine!)

This is an open invitation to hospitality in the home, with only one provision for the visitor. When you leave, don’t harm me or mine.

How many times have we left a place with this sort of conversation on our lips?

“She sure can’t cook. Dinner was so late, I had a migraine. She knows I’m gluten intolerant. Don’t they ever clean their house?”

Words are harmful. Hear these words and be thoughtful.

“Let us make a treaty with you that you will do us no harm, just as we did not harm you but always treated you well and sent you away peacefully. And now you are blessed by the Lord.” (Genesis 26: 28b, 29, NIV)

Prayer- Father God, the Golden Rule never fails does it? Help us do onto others as we would have them do onto us! In Christ, Amen.