Rhonda Lauritzen: What to Do When Christmas Doesn't Work Out
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Rhonda joins us to tell the story of Heidi, who was a young girl in Berlin during World War II and a valuable lesson she learned about Christmas and perspective when things don’t go as you expect.

Episode Discussion Points

• Holiday tradition of having biscuits and gravy on Christmas morning—which goes back several generations.
• Rhonda has been working with Heidi, an 86-year-old who went through WWII in Berlin as a child.
• Heidi came out of the war with hope and resilience—never losing her dimpled smile.
• Heidi’s Holiday story has its setting in Berlin in 1944—when the situation there was dire with daily bombings and very little food. There were no Christmas presents—no tree.
• Heidi and her mother decided their big celebration was they were going to make a cake and they had been saving their sugar.
• Unfortunately, Heidi accidentally put salt in the mixture instead of sugar, so when the cake was done is was awful and too salty.
• Her mother slumped on the floor and sobbed at this point and Heidi thought she ruined Christmas. And unfortunately that was the theme of Christmas of 1944 in Berlin.
• Good interview question for family history: “Tell me about a time when you didn’t think you would make it.” Those are the moments that we learn what we are really made of—those are the stories family wants to hear—how you made it (without sugar coating it), what you learned, and how you leaned on God—and how it made you into the person you are today.
• If you need a good Christmas gift idea—give someone you love the gift of recording their story (even on your phone) this holiday season.

Lessons

• When we have hard times or are going through grief, depression or financial challenges (even and especially during the holidays) sometimes it helps us have empathy for others in their hard times.
• “Sometimes the happy ending is in the bigger story arc. The bright side comes from carrying on and surviving.”
• Sometimes we have seasons where we feel we are losing battles—but keep trying.
• “Whatever you’re feeling right now is okay.”
• Its okay to sob on the floor and then get up the next day and keep living.
• Try to keep a broader perspective in hard times and a hope that things will get better.
• If you are having a good and happy holiday season, be aware of those who may be struggling. Ask God to help you find and help someone in need.
• Be sure to follow God-thoughts to be kind to someone.

Favorite Bible Verse about Christ

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Invitation

Ask someone this question this holiday season: “Tell me about a time when you didn’t think you would make it.” Then listen and learn from them and their story (and maybe record it).

Connect with Rhonda

• Connect with Rhonda on her website: https://evalogue.life/)
• Get the FREE Interviewing Tool Kit here: https://evalogue.life/oral-history1/)
• Looking for a great Christmas gift? Rhonda and her team can help you give the gift of a professional interview with a loved one for Christmas—learn more on her website.)
• Rhonda is also a writing coach and helped Rob A. Gentile with his #1 Best-Seller, *Quarks of Light. (You can find my interview with Rob here: *Rob A. Gentile: Lessons of Love from a Near Death Experience)).

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Transcription

You can find the transcription of today's episode here: https://www.tamarakanderson.com/podcasts/rhonda-lauritzen-what-to-do-when-christmas-doesnt-work-out