We live in northern Ohio, and it’s cold and snowy in January and February. The holiday season is over.
Well, almost over — it is time to think of the bills we’ve run up buying all those gifts and party
supplies.
Snow plows run up and down our streets, snowmen dot our yards. Or should I say snow persons? How about
snow sculptures? Sledding and tobogganing and snowball fights are all part of winter fun activities.
Except snowball fights are in some places frowned upon because of the potential danger of someone
getting hurt and it alludes to violence.
It’s Feb. 1 – mid winter, a cold and dark time of the year. Spring and warmer weather is too far away to
even think about. School work and traffic problems are with us. As is the threat of severe snow storms
and blizzards that could – should – keep us inside. January dark, cold, dreary and depressing. Frostbite
and hypothermia are more reasons to stay inside.
But life goes on, adults (parents) need to go to work, students of all ages need to go to school,
emergency personal, police, firefighters, EMTs, snow plow drivers and virtually all of us have to go out
to do needed errands — no matter how bad it is outside. It may be cold, snowy, icy and rainy, but life
goes on. Except for the extreme weather conditions we still need to do our daily, weekly and other
occasional activities. We can only look forward to better weather and warmer temperatures.
Then — out of nowhere — we find that one Christmas decoration we somehow overlooked when packing up the
others. Every year there is one or two that didn’t get put away. While looking at it, we laugh or at
least chuckle about it. This reminds us of the joyous holiday season and carols.
We sing a few bars of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” With the headlines we read and hear about
terrorism, crime, and impeachment and the dark and depressing nature of January, the words come forth,

“And in despair I bowed my head, there is no peace on earth, I said.
“For hate is strong and mocks the song, of peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
Even this beautiful carol talks about the depression and despair of January. As I looked at that
overlooked decoration, I hummed the familiar tune. Then I realized what it really was saying.
“Then peeled the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.
“The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on Earth goodwill to men.”
Even in the cold of January with short days and long nights, despair and depression don’t need to be part
of our life. We just need to pull up our big boy and big girl pants, and make the most of the cold.
Despair will fade to the peeling bells, so loud and deep. In time, less time than we will admit to, the
right will prevail, with peace on Earth goodwill to men. And spring will be here.
Herb Dettmer is a retired Bowling Green resident, U.S. Army veteran and writes this column
representing the viewpoint of “Joe Average” citizen. He is freelance writer and author of “Others,” a
devotional book. Call or text “Joe” with comments at 419-494-4641.