Oreoluwa: What makes a house a home?

On countless occasions, people interchange the use of the words ‘house’ and ‘home’ even though there are several distinctions between them. Not everyone has a home, but virtually everyone owns or lives in a house.

A house can be simply described as a place where a person receives shelter, while a home can then be classified based on how united those who live in the house are. Some people just own houses but forget to make them homes, while some others may not own a house, but the extent of their comfort in it can never be overemphasized compared to house owners. This is the reason why every family should prioritize their home, and endeavor to make it one where there is peace of mind, joy, unity, love and understanding.

A person’s lifestyle, temperament and self-esteem are determined by how an individual was raised. Money is undeniably very important to survive; however, the egocentric love for money over family has resulted in misplaced priorities. This is the main reason why children who are raised in a house without love as a result of their parents being too busy making money and buying houses turn out to be individuals who think love can be bought. They tend to place money above human worth and have little or no belief in the effectiveness of teamwork all because of their ego. These kinds of people usually believe they have all the good things that are required to be happy, but they have struggled with the basic need of love that has been void their whole lives.

Being raised in a good home where all that matters is the love shared as members of a family, makes one realize that there is more to being successful than just having all the money in the world.

As much as a house and a home differ, the foundation of a house can be equated to that of a home because the same way a house with a weak foundation does not last long is the same way a home without the basics of love and understanding would not thrive in times of tribulations.

“It is unconditional love and understanding,” was the response given by America’s longest married couple Ann and John Beta during an interview with the New York daily’s for their 81st anniversary, when asked how they were able to make their marriage work. The Betas are proof that marriage can truly last forever.

Meanwhile, the progressive increase in the divorce rate everywhere in the world has immensely contributed to a drastic decrease in the number of homes in most countries. In fact, statistics have proved that there are 2.4 million marriages in a year and 1.2 divorces in the same year, which means that fifty percent of all the marriages in a year end in divorce.

At times it seems like people are more concerned with contributing to the increasing percentage of divorce than striving to build their homes. Some children feel indifferent with regards to their parents being divorced, but others are greatly affected and this may shatter the dreams that such children have had.

I have come to realize that most people are missing the fact that every member of the family has a role to play in building a home. Parents have a big role to play but children also have an important role to play. As children, we could be the reason why our parents would be even more united and not consider divorce as an alternative to minor marital issues.

We should try as much as possible not to bring any form of discord between our parents but rather a source to always remind them of the main reason they were married in the first place; love, because I have also observed that this solves most marital issues. We ought to respect, obey, cherish and compliment our parents often to give them the assurance that they really do have a home. Doing all and more of these would contribute to making a good home.

Personally, I have always been thankful for Thanksgiving; it has always been one of the days that I am reminded of how much I should be grateful to God for the kind of family I belong to, as they made me understand the “house and home” concept. Indeed, I am assured that if everyone strives to build their homes as much as they build houses, the world surely would be a better place.

Lasisi Oreoluwa is a second-year majoring in pharmacy.