I’ve known Amy Sullivan a good long while now, and though I’ve never met her in person (is it weird to say that’s on my bucket list?), I admire her, respect her and downright love her. Amy’s heart for giving is incredible. What’s more, she doesn’t just think about giving and serving; she doesn’t just write about giving and serving; she does it. And Amy does something else that’s both challenging and at the same time hugely inspiring and encouraging: she gets her family involved, too.
So Amy’s gone and written a book – because she clearly doesn’t have enough on her plate as an educator, mother, wife and God-servant extraordinaire, right? I sat down one afternoon and read When More is Not Enough – How to Stop Giving Your Kids What They Want and Give Them What They Need
Oh, and by the way, Amy’s proceeds from sales of this book will be donated to a non-profit called Transformation Village, in her home state of North Carolina (more about that in the interview below). I know. I told you she was the bee’s knees!
I recently had the opportunity to ask Amy a few questions about her book and her family’s giving and serving philosophy. Enjoy this interview, and then scroll down to watch the book trailer AND register for a chance to win a copy of When More is Not Enough.
Q: If you could suggest one place to start with cultivating a giving/serving family, where would that be? I guess a better way to ask the question is: where do we even begin?
Amy: Easy peasy. Start where you are. Start where you live. The easiest way to begin serving others is by interacting with the community around you. Getting to know your neighbors, finding out what that woman down the street is passionate about, listening to an 82-year-old’s story, being present. I’m constantly shocked at how many needs surround our family, especially needs of people we know.
Q. Tell us a little bit about the non-profit organization you are donating book proceeds to. Why is it special to you?
Amy: My mother had me when she was barely nineteen. In addition to taking full time classes, my mom worked morning shifts at the university cafeteria, nights as a waitress, and weekends as a tour guide. Plus, she parented. Life was not easy, and I’ve always wanted to help other moms who struggle. The proceeds I make from When More is Not Enough are going to a project in Western North Carolina called Transformation Village. Transformation Village is a housing development my community is rallying to build. Transformation Village will house women who are veterans, single mothers and children, and families in crisis in North Carolina. It’s much different than a shelter in that it will focus on providing more than a meal and some clothes. Instead, Transformation Village will focus on providing a way for people to truly better themselves by offering counseling, mentoring, job training, and additional education.
Q. What’s the most creative service project you’ve done with your family?
Amy: I can take zero credit for our most creative service project. A nail polish stand was the brainchild of our oldest daughter. My husband and I discouraged our girl as she and a friend lined-up rainbow colors on a plastic tablecloth and stationed themselves on a corner in our neighborhood, but cars and walkers just kept coming.
Q. Tell us about a family service initiative that completely bombed? {make us feel better!}
Amy: I invited thirty people over to make shoes out of milk cartons and jeans. This was an obvious mistake for those who know me. The milk cartons stunk, the kids traced the wrong patterns, our two pair of dull scissors barely cut, and zero shoes were made. This was clearly a case of me getting sucked into a cool online video with great music, and ignoring the fact that I have zero crafting ability and therefore, it is not possible for me to lead a group of thirty in making shoes.
Q. What do you hope is the one definitive take-away readers will glean from When More is Not Enough?
Amy: Serving others is more than a series of tasks. It’s a way of life. It’s learning to love others the way God loves us.
For the past two years, Amy L. Sullivan looked harder, loved stronger, and discovered more by fixing her gaze on something other than the person staring back at her in the mirror. Amy writes for oodles of print and online publications and loves speaking with groups of any size. Connect with her online at AmyLSullivan.com.
{Email readers: please click here and scroll down to the bottom of the post if you’d like to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of When More Is Not Enough}
