15 In Bible Study/ Faith/ Motherhood

Starting A Legacy Bible For Your Children – Your Questions Answered

Since becoming a mother many years ago, it has been important to me that I leave some sort of legacy to my children. For a long time, I wasn’t sure what that meant to me. I had to grow in my role as a mother and even more in my relationship with God to understand what I wanted my legacy to be.

 

While leaving a legacy is a multi-faceted concept, one thing I have loved doing is creating a “Legacy Bible” for each one of my children. It is such a personal way of ensuring a piece of me will always be with them, while focusing them on the One who is truly always with them.

 

WHAT IS A LEGACY BIBLE?

The idea of creating a “Legacy Bible” isn’t my own. I don’t remember where I first heard of the concept of a “Legacy Bible”, but I know it wasn’t a detailed description. I just saw a mention of it, and loved the idea.

 

A “Legacy Bible” is essential a personalized Bible that I will one day gift to each of my children. I imagine this gift as something my children could pick up when they find themselves wanting to talk to me; perhaps more so after I am gone from this Earth. I know this can be emotional to think about, but not one of us knows the number of our days, and I want to make sure my children have pieces of me whenever they need. What better way for us to talk than through the words God has already spoken?

 

I am going to answer some of the questions that I had when I first started “Legacy Bibles” for my children. It is my hope and prayer that you will find encouragement here to start your own “Legacy Bible” for your children. What a blessing you will find! 

 

You may also enjoy:

Bible Study Tools

Read The Bible in 90 Days

New Testament Chronological Plan

 

HOW CAN I START A LEGACY BIBLE FOR MY CHILDREN?

A “Legacy Bible” will likely look different for many of us. While all Bibles are personal, creating a Legacy Bible is often even more so. You are not only thinking about you and your relationship with God; you are reading, and studying, and praying with your child on your heart. Therefore, only you can determine exactly what you want your own “Legacy Bible” to look like.

 

For me, writing in my “Legacy Bible” is like writing in a personal journal between me, my child, and God. It is a beautiful and very heartfelt thing. I read and write about what is on my heart at that time or what the text is saying and how it spoke to me.

 

Some days, it may be more context writing and other days it may be more of a heartfelt prayer to my child. I often pray over my children as I journal God’s promises over their lives.

 

I often highlight verses that stand out to me when thinking about where my child is presently, and then where I pray they will be in the future.

 

Sometimes I use the margins to doodle or hand-letter a verse or section of Scripture that I want to stand out to my child. I also think it would be so sweet to include handwritten notes or photographs of me and my child together. If you follow me on Instagram, you are likely to see me studying my Bible each morning. 

 

A “Legacy Bible” is also a beautiful way to document prayers to my children and their milestones of faith.

WHEN SHOULD I START A LEGACY BIBLE?

Now that you know what a “Legacy Bible” can be, and you know you want to start one…when is the best time to start it?

I have eight children, and plan to keep a “Legacy Bible” for each one of them. However, I am starting some of them later than others, of course.

In my opinion, I think it is best to start one of these “Legacy Bibles” when you start to see your child’s personality and God-given gifts start to shine.  This way your notes to your child can be more personal. This may mean when they are preschool age, or early elementary age. I also think it would be a beautiful thing to start a “Legacy Bible” when you are pregnant! Can you imagine what a treasure that would be for your child? 

 

WHEN SHOULD I GIFT MY LEGACY BIBLE TO MY CHILD?

When to gift your “Legacy Bible” to your child should be a very personal decision; I can not tell you when the best time is. I believe this decision should be between you, your spouse, and the Lord. However, there are certain milestones or markers in life where I can see gifting a “Legacy Bible” would be an extremely meaningful moment:

  • a graduation
  • a baptism
  • a marriage
  • your child’s first pregnancy or birth
  • when your child moves into his or her own home
  • when faced with an uncertain illness

 

DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS OR RESOURCES?

Aside from a Journaling Bible and some quality pens, you do not need anything special to start a “Legacy Bible.” Make sure to get a Bible with wide margins like the Our Family Story Bible, and write what God is teaching you in a way you know will resonate with your child.

 

You can see some of my favorite Bible For Women HERE.

 

There are no particular rules, there’s no right or wrong way, and it is never too late to start your “Legacy Bible.”

Before writing, always pray and ask God for wisdom and guidance on what He wants to teach you and your child.

 


About the Our Family Story Bible:

Although you can choose any Journaling Bible as your “Legacy Bible”, I chose to use the brand new Our Family Story Bible from Zondervan. I don’t think there is a better Bible out there for this purpose. When I first thought of beginning Legacy Bibles for my children, I looked at many different Bibles. When I heard of the Our Family Story Bible being released, I knew it was an answer to prayer. I encourage you to see this Bible in person, as pictures do not do it justice. It is absolutely stunning!

 

  • The Our Family Story Bible has a durable cover will last throughout the years. This is obviously important for a “Legacy Bible!”
  • There is a made for you Family Tree in the beginning, that covers a full two pages in the Bible.
  • Memory making activity pages are woven throughout to guide you in documenting important memories and traditions.
  • Plenty of wide margins with space for journaling.
  • A keepsake storage pocket is included at the back of the Bible. This would be a perfect space to hold any letters you may want to leave your child, or mementos as they grow up.

 

 

 

 


 

I hope you are encouraged to start a “Legacy Bible” for your own child! I only wish I had started a bit earlier, but like I mentioned…it’s never too late! These “Legacy Bibles” are incredibly special to me and I pray they will mean just as much to my children when I gift them to each of them.

This post is the beginning in a series on Creating A Legacy Bible and I hope you will come back to read them all!

What are your thought on starting a Legacy Bible for your child? I would love to hear them! 

Other posts in this series:

Starting a Legacy Bible When Your Child is Elementary Age

Starting a Legacy Bible when Your Child is Middle School Age

Starting a Legacy Bible When Your Child is in High School

The Best Bible to Use as “Legacy Bibles” and Other Thoughts

 

 

Be sure and Pin this post to come back and visit the whole series! 

 

 

How and Why to Start a Legacy Bible for Your Children

 

The Our Family Story Bible - start a Legacy Bible

 

You Might Also Like

15 Comments

  • Reply
    Kim
    September 2, 2019 at 10:36 am

    This is a great idea to pass down to the kids.

  • Reply
    Monica
    September 2, 2019 at 10:57 am

    This is such a great idea. I’ve never heard of a legacy bible but I definitely plan on starting one for my children after reading this.

  • Reply
    Ashley
    September 2, 2019 at 12:19 pm

    I got something similar as a gift when I was baptized as a child. It’s such a sweet gift idea.

  • Reply
    Carri
    September 2, 2019 at 1:06 pm

    This is such a beautiful idea! I use Mom and Me journals to pass back and forth between myself and my children, but this Legacy Bible is an even more meaningful way to express the things that are most important to us. Thanks for the inspirational idea!

  • Reply
    Pamela
    September 2, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    I love this idea!! Have never heard of it before!

  • Reply
    Gretchen Fleming
    September 2, 2019 at 3:54 pm

    What a great idea! I’ve not heard of this before but love it. What a precious gift that would be to our children!

  • Reply
    Claire
    September 2, 2019 at 7:52 pm

    I love the thought behind this idea!

  • Reply
    Lynn Armstrong
    September 3, 2019 at 9:47 am

    I really love this idea! I have briefly heard of a Legacy Bible and actually may start one for my kids now! I had heard of one, but I never truly knew what it was. Thanks so much for the awesome ideas!

  • Reply
    jenna
    September 3, 2019 at 10:16 am

    I’ve never heard of this! I love the idea 🙂 Thanks for walking us through!! What a great gift

  • Reply
    Kristal
    September 3, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    This is such a wonderful idea. I really love it.

  • Reply
    Marysa
    September 3, 2019 at 9:41 pm

    I wasn’t familiar with this. I do have some Bibles that were handed down through the family, but they aren’t like this.

  • Reply
    Nicole Kauffman
    September 4, 2019 at 10:27 am

    I LOVE this idea! I’ve never heard of a legacy bible!! Great idea!

  • Reply
    jalisa harris
    September 4, 2019 at 1:28 pm

    I never knew about this until now.

  • Reply
    Linda
    September 20, 2020 at 2:02 am

    I heard about doing something similar to this when I was reading Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson. I’ve wanted to get started for my three children but wasn’t sure how to begin. Have you read Draw the Circle? Have you any ideas for it? Thank you.

  • Reply
    Debbie
    July 15, 2021 at 9:46 am

    This is a great article. What an awesome idea! Your right, it’s never too late to start – even if your children are already grown. It would work for grandchildren, too.

  • Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.