Sally Lloyd-Jones: “God chose you specifically for your children and your children for you”

Sally, tell us a bit about yourself - where did you grow up and how did you get to where you are today?

I was born in Kampala, Uganda. My dad was working for Shell. I was born in Mengo missionary hospital, though my parents weren’t believers yet. The surgeon prayed over me before I was born. My parents talk about that as one of the links in the chain that brought them to faith. We moved to Nairobi, then back to England, and that’s where I went to school for a little while and attended a Sunday school.

My memory as a little girl was going from Africa – which was freedom and running bare foot – to heavy coats and shoes and serious Sunday school. I always knew Jesus was my best friend – my dad led me to the Lord when I was four – but at that Sunday school, it seemed to my little 6-year-old mind to be all about rules. Then we went to West Africa, but I wasn’t thriving at the school there. I’m so grateful my parents saw that and sent me to a boarding school in the New Forest in the UK when I was eight. It sounds like a bad thing – but it was literally a God send. It was a magical school, and I am sure one reason I became a writer.

Looking back, as we all can, every single piece in our lives prepares us for what God has called us to do

My mother always knew I could write, and then a teacher at that school told me I could, too. Later I studied at the Sorbonne, worked at Oxford University Press in Oxford, and found myself in publishing. I felt I was on the wrong side of the desk – editing, not writing myself. But I didn’t think I was good enough to write. Eventually, I took a job in Connecticut, thinking I’d only go for a year, but I never left.

I became head of the children’s line at a trade publisher who then began a Christian imprint. I’d always resisted the idea that I’d be in Christian publishing all my life, but my boss knew I was a Christian and started giving me Bible stories to edit. I got a name for being able to distil biblical truth, and now I thank God for that, because it’s what led to write The Jesus Storybook Bible.

if you had a perfect family, would you ever long for your heavenly Father? God knows what he’s doing. He uses even your weaknesses

After being laid off in 2000, I thought, “If I don’t try to write now, when will I?” So, I started writing picture books. I started to have manuscripts accepted which was so exciting. But it’s hard to make a living on picture books. So then, when the opportunity to write a children’s Bible storybook came up, I agreed. I didn’t have a vision for it at first, but as I began researching and soaking myself in theology (books, courses, sermons) my imagination caught fire and I was hooked. That’s when I believe God gave me the book, and the vision for it. And from then on, I was passionate about it.

Looking back, as we all can, every single piece in our lives prepares us for what God has called us to do. I’d been an art director and editor for years, I studied art history (though everyone told me it would lead nowhere), and all that helped me with my role in the art direction and design direction of The Jesus Storybook Bible. As an Art Director in publishing, I was always looking out for illustrators at book conferences, and I spotted Jago. I kept his art in a file of favourite illustrators. We had two false starts with other illustrators for The Jesus Storybook Bible before Jago, but when I first saw his interpretation of Jesus, I knew he was the one. He’s so gifted—his work captivates everyone from toddlers to ninety-year-olds.

That experience made me determined never to give children the idea that you have to do everything right for God to love you

Most of my books aren’t Bible stories. I see my calling as bringing joy to children’s hearts, whether it’s a story about a bunny, a clueless fish, the smallest king who ever lived or a Bible story. I call children my bosses – if I’m not keeping their interest, I’m not doing my job. With picture books, you have to be generous to the child – if you insist on keeping every single one of your words, you don’t leave room for the illustration, you don’t crowd the page with words—and ultimately the story suffers and so does the child. If it’s a good picture book, you have to check your ego at the door.

When writing The Jesus Storybook Bible, I had nieces and nephews who were four, and writing for them changed everything. I stopped trying to sound like a children’s book; I just thought, “How would I say this to them?” Also, an editor once told me there are two types of children’s book writers: those who need to be around children for ideas, and those who are children inside. I knew I was the second.

I wrote The Jesus Storybook Bible for the little girl I was in that strict Sunday school in England all those years ago. I am grateful for that Sunday school; it showed me exactly how I didn’t want children to feel about God. That experience made me determined never to give children the idea that you have to do everything right for God to love you.

How do you think your parents influenced you?

My parents became Christians when I was two, through one of my father’s colleagues at Shell who invited him to hear John Stott speak in Nairobi. My dad was converted, then and there and my mother a few months later – through one of John Stott’s books. When I was four, my dad led me to the Lord; I don’t remember a time when I didn’t believe Jesus was my best friend.

My mum gave me a love for literature, my dad for theology

I’m so grateful to my parents. None of what I’ve done would have been possible without their faithfulness and sacrifices – like sending me to that boarding school when I wasn’t thriving in Africa. We grew up surrounded by books, music, and art. My first experience of Christianity was inspiring – Amy Carmichael, Corrie ten Boom, heroic faith. I’m grateful for that.

My mum gave me a love for literature, my dad for theology—he’s a theologian and a vicar. He’d share books like Helmut Thielicke’s The Waiting Father, which I read at 19 and still love. Also, he had a great sense of humour we all share. My mother is very imaginative; my sisters and I all had a magical childhood.

Were there any specific family traditions that you remember?

We always did daily readings and prayers together, and read books by Amy Carmichael, Corrie ten Boom—so many strong women. There was never a sense that, as girls, we couldn’t be as amazing as boys.

How have you seen things differently as you’ve grown older?

When I moved to New York, I started attending Redeemer and learning from Dr Tim Keller. That was huge for me—Tim’s teaching about grace, and showing how the Bible wasn’t about me and what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s about God and what he has done. How all the Bible was about Jesus, was transformative. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I believe God was preparing me to write The Jesus Storybook Bible.

Tim also worked hard to avoid jargon and was always welcoming to anyone who might come. He removed obstacles for anyone to hear the gospel. That shaped me. I want to be hospitable and welcoming like that, both in church and online.

Read more:

Andy Kind: “Your children are the main characters in your story — you’re just the prologue”

Miel de Botton: “Parenthood is challenging, but faith, prayer, and perseverance carry you through”

Ed Drew: “Parenting isn’t complicated: love them, listen to them, keep them safe, and point them to Jesus”

If you could thank your parents for one thing what would that be?

Introducing me to the Lord. That’s the priceless treasure. I’m also grateful for starting life in Africa—we had so many adventures, and my parents made sacrifices for us. They always put us first. I tell them all the time: everything I’ve done, I couldn’t have done without them. Parents are heroic—they give so much and are in the background while their children shine. Any legacy I have is their legacy.

What do you think it’s important for parents to consider today?

I think to remember that God chose them specifically for their children, and their children for them. Even when you mess up, God can use it for good. That Sunday school I went to—God used it. Maybe relax a little and let God do what he’s going to do. These children belong to him.

Parents are so hard on themselves, trying to be perfect and give their children perfect lives. But I wonder if a ‘perfect life’ is what God is asking you to give your children? I once heard a very wise person ask this—if you had a perfect family, would you ever long for your heavenly Father? God knows what he’s doing. He uses even your weaknesses.