We left for school as we do every other day. The boys turned off the lights in each room, and I locked the doors. I drove them to school and went about my day. After school pick-up at the end of the day, we checked the mail and drove the bumpy dirt road to our house. I unlocked the back door, and we all toted our handful of items into the living room. There was movement in the recliner. We froze. “Poofy! You scared me.” Carter reached for the white and black cat. “How did you get in here?

The Distractions

“Meow.” Poofy arched her back in a waking-up manner. She yawned and squinted at Carter.

“She must have snuck in here this morning before we left,” Carter said.

“No. Not possible. She was on the porch when we pulled off. Somebody’s been here.”

My insides jerked at the thought of someone else being in the house while we were gone. I made my way through every room. I checked the front door and all the windows. Nothing seemed out of place. When I opened my bedroom door, motion drew my eyes to the wall. The floor-length curtain in front of the French doors waved. I never went out this door because the latch didn’t always work, so I rarely checked it. Sure enough, the door was cracked open a cat’s width.

“Poofy, you snuck in this door and have been sleeping in that chair all day, haven’t you?”

The cat yawned and looked contentedly at me from Carter’s arms.

“Mama, Poofy’s never this nice to me.”

“Normally, Poofy sleeps with one eye open on the front porch. I bet she caught up on weeks of lost sleep today since she knew how safe she was in the house.”

The Rest

And as those words left my lips, the lesson emerged. Poofy knew the house was safe. She found her spot in the recliner and hid from the rest of the world. Life as a cat was filled with short naps, unknown predators, and many distractions. Poofy was always on the go–ready to run and hide at the faintest unknown sound. If I could catch more than a few minutes of sleep at one time, I’d take it, too.

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

~Psalm 119:114 ESV

Then why don’t I? I have a safe refuge where I can rest every single day. I can find that perfect spot and hide from the rest of the world. The unknowns of the world so often consume. Distractions pull me off course. I am always on the go and running in multiple directions.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

~Psalm 62:8 ESV

Like Poofy, I need to set aside time every day and hide in the safe presence of my Father. Quick refills in the car or short recharges at meals keep me functional, but unless I completely pull away from everyone, everything, and all distractions, I will never be able to completely let my guard down.

True rest and recharge require us to seek that time of rest and take full advantage of the moment. Be fully present and distraction-free.

Think about the last time you sneaked into that safe place and truly rested. Make some time. There’s nothing sweeter.

Father, guide me to the safe places so I can rest in You. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: How Did You Get in Here: Christy Bass Adams: All Rights Reserved