Non-Negotiables

At every season of life, it is important to define 5 to 7 non-negotiables. Non-negotiables are those foundational commitments that you make to your family that "come what may" you will hold firm to them. Understandably, at times life will bottleneck, but for the most part you will live out a commitment to these defined priorities.

I love what my assistant, Nancy McDonaugh, has written as her non-negotiables for this busy season of her life. With all that she has going on with Entrusted, as well as caring for her two children (ages 16 and 14) and her devoted husband, she charts out her non-negotiables and keeps them in a place where she can refer to them often.

From time to time, and especially at the end of the year, she can look back and say, "Did I hold true to the things that are most important? Did I build the infrastructure of my family and not let the cares of this world disintegrate it?"

Life will squeeze out the important things if we let it. We need to be aware of what we want to emphasize if we are going to accomplish it. 

Nancy's Non-Negotiables:

• I will spend significant time with the Lord every day.
• I will spend significant time with my husband every day.
• I will fully engage with my kids (physically, mentally, and emotionally) every day.
• I will go to bed at the same time as my husband as often as possible.
• We will eat dinner together as a family on a regular basis.
• I will keep the Sabbath as a day set apart from all others.
• I will make good health and exercise a priority in my life.