If you’ve ever found yourself feeling stuck, frustrated as though you’re working against yourself, you’re not alone. Anna Christine (A. C.) Seiple loves cultivating healing spaces to slow down and tune in with what’s happening inside, inviting God to soothe those stuck spaces within–precisely because she has needed these spaces herself. Drawing from years of formation shaped by trauma, spiritual direction, therapy, and her own work as a therapist, A. C. weaves story together with contemplative and therapeutic prompts, sharing the sacred spaces that have shaped her. The heartbeat of her work is to draw us into a deeper connection with the entirety of our embodied being, tuning in with the depths of the soul and inviting God to tend to the whole of who we are. It’s a joy to welcome Anna to the farm’s table today…
Guest Post by Anna Christine Seiple
Over the last few years, I’ve had the joy of watching two of my husband’s siblings welcome foster children into their families.
Seeing them open their homes to these precious little girls has been one of the most beautiful demonstrations of love I’ve ever witnessed.
One of these nieces came into my brother and sister- in- law’s home after being severely neglected and born addicted to drugs.
Her new brothers loved having her around, and I watched my husband’s brother and his wife truly take her in as one of their own. Early on, she would often be on the hip of her new foster mom, not responding to tone or facial expressions, seemingly just going with the flow.
I’d try my hardest to connect with her when I saw her, but no games of peekaboo or flashy toys would prompt her to respond.
When we greeted her or said goodbye, it was as though she didn’t hear us.
I wasn’t sure if I should give up or keep trying to bridge the disconnect.
Then one night, I noticed something was different.
I was chatting with my sister-in-law Ally as my little niece was resting securely on her hip.
After a minute or so, I saw her look up at Ally, seeking out her gaze.
I was struck.
I had never seen this sweet girl look at someone with that kind of connectedness before. Along with her eyes reaching out for contact, I saw the muscles of her mouth move into the shape of a smile, something else I had never seen her do. And as her face sought out Ally’s face, my niece reached her little fingers toward her as well. She then began to bounce her entire little being as her whole body shouted with playfulness, “Come on! Play the game!”
My sister-in-law responded, mirroring the little smile and silliness that was reaching out to her. Her brown eyes lit up with the little brown eyes looking up at her. In harmony with her eyes, Ally’s whole face was glowing, matching the smile that was inviting her to be with her in this moment. And to complete the whole interaction, she met the little fingers reaching for her, grasping them and holding this precious girl a little tighter.
“During the months she had spent in her foster home, her body had learned that she was not alone and was no longer neglected. Her body knew that she was seen and heard and that she would be held.“
Just for a moment time seemed suspended as they waited for what would come next. Then in a rhythm they clearly both knew, Ally bounced up and down. Their bodies moved together, wiggling in playful laughter that they savored together.
As I watched this sweet girl come alive, I felt as if I was witnessing a sacred healing. Over and over again, I saw my niece seek out Ally, moving all the little muscles in her face to play their game of finding each other and sharing a connected moment.
It was clear she felt a sense of security, knowing that as she played this game, my sister-in-law would respond. During the months she had spent in her foster home, her body had learned that she was not alone and was no longer neglected. Her body knew that she was seen and heard and that she would be held.
And then when we all sat down to eat, I noticed something else.
Rather than sitting silently in her high chair, as Ally offered her a bite of potatoes, she shook her head and squealed in protest as she pushed her little hands against the plastic spoon offered to her.
Later that night, Ally later said to all of us, “Even though it makes days harder, I’m so grateful for how she’s pushing back now in ways that she never did before.”
She explained, “When she was first with us, she used to just go with the flow no matter what I did, so it wasn’t as stressful for me to manage life with her and the boys.
“Now that she’s made so much progress, she pushes back in the way a two-year-old normally would. And while that’s frustrating in one way, I know it means that she’s developing, which is a good thing. It makes meals and other moments more stressful for me, but it’s so worth it knowing what that means— she’s growing and she’s healing.”
Rather than seeing her foster daughter’s behavior as a problem or something that had to be changed to make her own life more convenient, Ally dignified and honored her little girl’s embodied being, exuding so much love, grace, and patience. She saw the bigger picture.
“I can’t help but wonder: What might it be like if we were to extend steady and gracious care to the parts of us that seem like problems? “
As a mom to two older boys, she knew it was typical for a toddler to get frustrated at mealtime or when stuck in a high chair. What human wouldn’t be frustrated if they didn’t get a say in their dinner while being restrained in a chair?
The loud cries from this girl’s tiny body meant that she felt safe in her circumstances and was now engaging differently with the world around her.
Rather than being unresponsive in a state of learned helplessness, she could start to explore the world in new ways.
Reflecting on their interactions felt like an invitation to consider how we might extend a soothing balm of tenderness to the parts of us that we sometimes try to restrain or silence.
I can’t help but wonder: What might it be like if we were to extend steady and gracious care to the parts of us that seem like problems?
What if we tried mirroring God’s own lovingkindness— care that isn’t solely concerned with our behavior, but instead, sees the whole of who we are, delighting in our growth and our healing?
Anna Christine (A. C.) Seiple is a licensed counselor, retreat leader, instructor, and researcher. She loves integrating neuroscience with spirituality, honoring the entirety of our created being. She holds two master’s degrees—one in clinical mental health counseling and one in biblical studies—and is currently a postgraduate researcher working on her PhD at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She enjoys nature, dancing, and adventuring with her husband. Connect with A. C. on Instagram @a.c.seiple and online at acseiple.com.
It’s easy for everything in our lives to seem fine on the surface. But deep down inside, there’s often another story at play—one of overwhelm, stress and heartache, of finding ourselves stuck in old patterns. Rather than feeling the weight of it all, it’s easier to spend our days on autopilot, ignoring the noise inside.
But what if the peace and relief we most long for comes from tuning in with what’s happening inside, instead of tuning it out?
Join therapist Anna Christine (A. C.) Seiple on a compassionate, mindful exploration of the depths of our souls. With gentleness, wisdom, and expertise, A. C. invites us to connect with our body and get curious about the spaces within that feel most stuck—and find where we need safety, attunement and care.
{Our humble thanks to Tyndale for their partnership in today’s devotional.}
