Often times people have a misconception of what it means for a house to become a home. A house is simply a structure where someone resides; a home is much more personal. A home is shaped by the residents just as much as the residents are shaped by it. If one were to search through a dictionary, it could be found that a home is defined as a place in which one's domestic affections are centered (Scott, Foresman Advanced Dictionary, Pg. 528). In reality, a home is much more than cooking and cleaning, it is the memories that lie within these menial tasks. Home means everything; home is a place of shelter, memories, and a sacred place where love can be found.
Certainly, a home is a place of shelter both physically and emotionally. However, a house is only physical. A home provides people with a place of comfort. When the storms begin to rage and the bristles of the grass begin to frost, a family may describe their home as being their safe haven. A home also provides stability within its physical walls. The people within the home are so closely knitted that they are able to withstand whatever comes before them. In addition, a home also provides shelter in an emotional sense as it blocks out the corrupt world. Within a home, an insecure teenager can feel good about themselves. The shelter that a home provides is remarkable; it allows acceptance. One does not have to worry about how he or she thinks or feels. Home is a place where one can be free from the emotional guard put up in the "real world." A place where any busy businessman can set everything aside and just live.
Unquestionably, a house is nothing more than a house unless it is filled with memories; at that point, it can be considered a home. A home is full of precious memories shared amongst the dearest family members. Everyone's home is defined by where they experienced their most beautiful moments, as well as their ugliest. Home may be where the reckless boy took his first steps and broke his first toy. Perhaps a daughters memories come from the kitchen; where she and her mom would cook her favorite dish and would burn herself getting the scorching pan out of the oven. Home is where anxious children run into the living room on Christmas morning to open presents and celebrate with family and friends. It is where mom burnt the turkey on Thanksgiving, and grandma served her most decadent pies. A home contains so many memories whether those memories are from ones childhood, teenage years or last week.
In time, one will be able to look back and relive all that was and in return will do everything in his or her power to transform the house into a home with a new family. They will cherish the times where they baked gooey chocolate chip cookies with the family, studied hours on end for their finals and played countless tunes on the upright piano. One will realize how valuable memories truly are. He or she will soon come to the realization that without memories it becomes hard for one to justify the importance of the house and therefore, it is not a home.
Undoubtedly, a home is full of love. As they all say, home is where the heart is. It is a place where anyone can feel comfort and support. The love felt within a home cannot be found anywhere else. For me, home is where my parents are constantly by my side, supporting me no matter what. A home has a type of love that one will cherish forever. It is filled with people who care so much about a specific loved one that they will go out of their way to serve that person’s every need. Home can be described as a place where its love is never ending, never failing and never changing. Home will always be there. It's a place where one can go on a good day and share and go on a bad day to receive care. Home is where the depressed, jaded, mistreated and lost people are able to accept themselves, because they know that no matter what they really are loved; that one person has a purpose. Love is essential to a home.
Consequently, a home is everything. It is where a broken family can take shelter in the heat of the storms both emotionally and physically. Home is where that family can share and create memories that will last a lifetime and most importantly, home is a place where the brokenhearted can experience unconditional love. Everything that cannot be drawn out in a blueprint is what defines a home. The experiences one encounters throughout life contributes to the definition of a home. A home shapes us just as much as we shape it.
