The behind-the-scenes principles that guide the film couple's life

Oscar-winning film The Blind Side told the story of black NFL player Michael Oher, who was adopted by white parents Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy and their two children. Now, in the new Henry Holt book, In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Joyful Giving, the Tuohys share the lessons they have learned in giving, not only by adopting Michael, but also in ways as simple as tithing and being present to the needs around them

Leigh Anne, an interior designer, decided early on that her mission was to raise children who would become "cheerful givers." Sean, who grew up poor but now owns a large number of fast-food franchises, said he believed that one day he could provide a home that would be "a place of miracles."

"When you give because you want to see the results or you give because of the results or you give hoping for a result, that means you're giving with some sort of an agenda," Sean Tuohy said. "And I don't think that's what (the Bible) means by 'cheerful giver.' "

Along with the cheerful giving principle from Scripture, the couple lives by what they term the Popcorn Theory.

"If you throw all the kernels to the bottom of the pan and it starts heating up, well, all those kernels look alike, but those kernels have needs and wants you don't really know," Sean said. "The one that really needs it the worst will pop up and hit you right in the face."

Michael was transformed because of the family's generosity as they opened their hearts to him, and they still work with inner-city kids, but the Tuohys don't think every giver has to do something grand.

"Yes, we adopted a 16-year-old kid that obviously had needs, but that's no better or no greater than somebody who looks at the little red bucket at Christmastime and puts quarters in it," Sean said. "They do it with a cheerful heart and it has the same effect in God's eyes."

Giving 10% of their income to God has also become important to the family.

"I had always gone to church and given, but it was never something that I understood exactly what I was doing, I just thought I was supposed to do it," Sean said. "The premise that it wasn't that you're giving what's left over, but you're giving your first tenth had a huge impact on me.

"Then the biggest impact was that if you're not doing it with a cheerful heart, then God really doesn't want it, so you really need to get your heart right. That was the big change in our family and certainly in my heart."

All three Tuohy children—Collins, Sean Jr. and Michael—contribute to the book, as do actors from The Blind Side, Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress for The Blind Side. The couple still maintains a relationship with the stars.

"We couldn't be more happy with the people that portrayed us (in the movie)," Sean said, adding, "My wife and Sandy talk all the time. There is no reason before this movie that they would have ever had this relationship with us, but it was probably the other way around."

The Tuohys are not holding themselves up as an example to the detriment of others. Rather, Sean said: "We're not trying to teach anybody a lesson. I think what we are trying to tell people with this book is that we have just as many warts as anybody else, we just happen to have our names tagged to the characters of the movie, but that doesn't excuse us nor does it excuse you from really finding that place in your heart to do stuff for others."

For more information on the 288-page hardcover book, visit www.henryholt.com. To order, call 888-330-8477.

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