Leaving a Legacy: How to Build Family Legacy with Bill High

What if legacy isn’t just what you leave behind, but what you set in motion today?

That’s the question Bill High, co-author of The Legacy Life with David Green (founder of Hobby Lobby), challenges us to consider. In this interview for the Habits of Hope Podcast, Bill shares wisdom drawn from his own broken beginnings, his decades of work with families, and his deep belief that legacy is about passing down faith, values, and stories that last for generations.

Bill has helped families give away billions through philanthropy, but his passion goes deeper than finances. He believes legacy is something every person creates — no matter your background or wealth.

Bill High on Leaving a Family Legacy

Bill is the CEO of Legacy Stone, a ministry equipping families to build multi-generational legacies. After more than a decade of practicing law, he shifted his career toward philanthropy, helping establish a donor-advised foundation and facilitating over $5 billion in family giving. Through his work, he helps families define their vision, values, and practices so they can live with intention today and impact future generations.

He’s also the co-author of The Legacy Life with David Green, offering deep wisdom on living generously, sharing stories, and creating rhythms that shape hope for generations to come.

Legacy Shaped by Loss and Humble Beginnings

Larissa: Bill, you often share that you grew up in a broken home and lost your dad at a young age. How has that shaped your understanding of legacy, hope, and family?

Bill: “The short story is that I grew up…my dad was the oldest of eight, living in a three-room log cabin in the Missouri Ozarks. They had a lot more kids than room in the house. They were very poor, a bit backwards.

He joined the service, went over to Japan, met my mom, and brought her back. Together they had six kids. We were a welfare family growing up — very poor. I don’t remember living in a house with a working toilet until I was 16. We were the family Salvation Army brought gifts to.

The net effect is we didn’t grow up in a family of faith. My dad died when I was 12. But a couple years earlier, a family down the street gave us a children’s Bible storybook. That’s how I came to faith — through the story of the Bible.

At school, a teacher gave us an assignment to keep a journal for 30 days. I just kept going. I’ve been journaling for 50 years now. One of my earliest entries was, ‘I’d love to have a great family and be part of a great family.’ That wound — losing my father — led to a passion for family. I’ve been on that journey ever since.”

“Wherever your deepest wound is, that’s where the flower grows.” — Bill High

 

 

Journaling, Gratitude, and Habits of Hope

Larissa: That’s powerful, Bill. And thank you for bringing up journaling. Not many men talk about journaling, but it’s such a tool for listening to God.

Bill: “Yeah, I’d say journaling is cheaper than therapy.”

Ginger: Bill, beyond journaling, is there another specific rhythm or spiritual practice you lean on when life feels uncertain?

Bill: “The biggest practice is gratitude. I start every day with, ‘Lord, I’m most grateful. It’s a brand new day, and I have new opportunity.’

Sometimes I’ll go deeper. A friend once encouraged me to write down ten things I’m most grateful for. I don’t do it every day, but recounting what God has done changes your outlook.

Gratitude is one of the simplest ways to remember that every day is a gift. Even the little things — when you stop to notice them — show you God’s presence.”

“Gratitude is one of the simplest and most powerful habits you can practice every single day.” — Bill High

Redefining Legacy: Not Just Wealth

Larissa: You say legacy isn’t just for the wealthy or well-known. How do you define legacy in a way that’s accessible for everyday families?

Bill: “Everybody has a legacy. Legacies aren’t neutral — they’re either good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10 says we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be held accountable for the things we’ve done, whether good or bad. That means all of us.

Most people think legacy is what you leave behind. The problem with that definition is it sounds optional, like you can ignore it. But legacy is what you set in motion.

Someday Jesus will ask, ‘What did I put in your hand, and how did you do with it?’ That’s legacy. It’s not just inheritance — it’s purpose.”

“Legacy is not what you leave — it’s what you set in motion.” — Bill High

Stories and Values: The First Steps to Family Legacy

Ginger: What does it look like, practically, when we pass down the kind of legacy that matters to God?

Bill: “The first thing is stories. What are the ten stories you most want to pass down?

These might be stories of hope, loss, salvation, or answered prayer. The Bible models this — think about the Passover. It begins with the youngest child asking, ‘Why is this night different from all the others?’

The second thing is values. Write down your five family values. The Ten Commandments are a set of values — love God, love people. Values are protective and attractive. When people see you live by them, they may not understand at first, but they’ll notice you live differently.”

“Every family should define their ten stories and five values. Those two things shape legacy.” — Bill High

 

Multi-Generational Faith and Christian Legacy

Ginger: In The Legacy Life, you and David Green talk about living with a multi-generational perspective. What practices can families begin today?

Bill: “Start with a biblical worldview. God designed family to be multi-generational. Psalm 78:5–7 says fathers tell their children, who tell their children, the children yet unborn, even to the next generation. That’s five generations.

When we adopt that worldview, everything shifts. We recognize the responsibility to pass on values and faith.

From there, add celebrations. The Jewish people had seven times a year when they remembered and reflected on God’s work. Families today can do the same — not just at Christmas or Thanksgiving, but intentional times to pause, rest, and say, ‘Here’s what God has done in our family.’”

“A biblical worldview of family is multi-generational. We pass on values, faith, and stories to those yet unborn.” — Bill High

 

God’s Redemption is Hope for Broken Family Legacy

Ginger: For families who feel behind, overwhelmed, or broken, where can they start small?

Bill: “We wrote a chapter on broken legacy because it’s so common. So many stories in the Bible start badly — but God shows up.

Take David and Bathsheba: an adulterous affair, conspiracy for murder. Yet God brought Solomon, who built the temple.

God always has the long view. Matthew 1 traces 42 generations from Abraham to Christ. Our job is to remember God redeems broken stories. 

“Here’s the hope: God is in the business of redeeming broken legacies.” — Bill High

Generosity as a Family Legacy

Larissa: You say generosity is integral to legacy. Why is generosity such a powerful part of legacy?

Bill: “Western culture is hyper-individualistic. It’s about me, my money, my time. Biblically, family is a team.

Generosity is a learned art. It’s not natural. But when you raise generous kids and grandkids, you can almost guarantee success inside the family.

With our kids, we practiced random generosity. For example, we’d give them $100 at Thanksgiving and challenge them to give it away before Christmas, then share their stories.

One time, my son in college needed cold medicine, but instead he gave the money to people at a coffee shop because he felt God’s nudge. How do you argue with that?

My other son once said, ‘Dad, I’d be saving more for retirement if I wasn’t giving so much.’ That’s when you know generosity has taken root — when your children see something bigger than themselves.”

“Generosity is caught, not just taught.” — Bill High

Writing The Legacy Life with David Green

Larissa: You co-wrote this book with David Green. What was that like, and how did his leadership at Hobby Lobby shape the message?

Bill: “I’ve had the privilege of working with David Green and his family for more than 20 years. The heart of their story is simple: they want to listen to God, hear from Him, and obey — even if it doesn’t make sense.

Hobby Lobby is a company that shouldn’t work by conventional standards. They close on Sundays. They close early each day. They pay the highest minimum wage in their industry. And they give away half their profits. By the world’s wisdom, that’s not a recipe for success. But it works — because they’re willing to follow God’s ways and trust Him with the results.

One of their family values is adventure. Adventure doesn’t mean vacation or thrills. It means a dangerous and uncertain undertaking. And that’s exactly what the life of faith often feels like — stepping into the unknown and obeying, even when it’s risky.

This book actually comes out of the last one we wrote together, Leadership Not by the Book. One of the chapters in that book was called Build for 150 Years. Most businesses are built to sell, retire, or cash out. But David believes in building for 150 years.

After that book, people started asking us, ‘How do I do that? How do I build for 150 years?’ And that’s what led to The Legacy Life.

The principle applies to families just as much as to businesses. Most people think about raising kids until graduation, then they’re done. But biblically, family is multi-generational. Psalm 78 talks about passing faith from fathers to children, to children yet unborn, and to generations to come. That’s 150 years.

So the question is — what are you doing today to build into your children, your grandchildren, even your great-grandchildren? That’s the kind of vision we need for family legacy.”

“Most businesses are built to sell or retire. God calls families to build for 150 years.” — Bill High

 

The Family Legacy Quiz & Devotional

Ginger: Bill, on your website you have a Legacy Quiz. How does that help families?

Bill:“The Ministry of Legacy Stone has come out of all the work we’ve done with families over the years. What we’ve seen is that every family needs two things: an assessment and a roadmap.

The assessment is simple: How are we doing? Life goes by so fast. You get married, you have kids, and before you know it, you’re at graduation. Without stopping to reflect, you can miss the opportunity to build culture with intention. The quiz helps families take that pause and really evaluate where they are.

The second thing is the roadmap. Families need a clear plan — rhythms, practices, and seasons that shape their culture. We call this a culture map. The families who take time to create one have a much greater chance of being successful, not only now, but for generations to come.”

Ginger: And you also have a devotional releasing alongside The Legacy Life.

Bill:“Yes. When we wrote our last book, people asked, ‘Could you give us a study guide?’ We hadn’t planned for one, but this time we wanted to be ready.

The devotional is a 90-day, scripture-focused guide that pairs with the book but can also stand on its own. It’s designed for groups — couples, men, women, or small groups — who want to work through these ideas together.

Each day walks you into the Scriptures around legacy and helps you ask practical questions: What are our values? What stories do we want to pass down? Where do we need to repair broken places? It’s not just theory — it’s a tool to help families take action.”

“Families need an assessment and a roadmap. The quiz helps you see where you are, and the devotional gives you steps to live it out.” — Bill High

 

The One Thing Bill Wants Families to Know

Larissa: If you could leave families with one message, what would it be?

Bill: “We are living in the greatest time in history — resources, technology, and people are converging. God wants to use families to complete the Great Commission.

Our lives are living letters to generations we’ll never see. When we get to heaven, we’ll see the ripple effect of our faithfulness. That’s legacy.”

“Our lives are living letters to generations we’ll never see.” — Bill High

 

Closing Thoughts on Leaving a Legacy

Bill High reminds us that legacy isn’t someday. It’s every choice we make, every story we tell, every value we live, and every act of generosity we model. Legacy is living with eternal purpose now — and trusting God to multiply the impact for generations to come.

Legacy doesn’t belong to the wealthy or the famous. It belongs to anyone who is willing to live with intention, practice gratitude, cultivate generosity, and anchor family life in faith. It’s the everyday decisions that shape tomorrow’s impact.

“Legacy isn’t someday — it’s something you live right now.”

“That’s the call — to live today in a way that echoes into eternity and leaves a legacy of hope.

Resources & Links for Building Family Legacy

Bill High’s new book, The Legacy Life (co-authored with David Green), releases October 14. This powerful resource unpacks how to build faith, values, and generosity into your family legacy — with practical steps and real-life examples.

• The Legacy Life by Bill High & David Green
• 90-Day Legacy Devotional
• Bill’s Website
• Legacy Family Assessment Quiz
• Legacy Stone Website
• Habits of Hope Podcast Episode with Bill High

Don’t wait to build your legacy — begin today. Share a story, speak a value, or practice generosity. Every choice plants a seed of faith and every seed of faith grows hope for generations to come.

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