October 12, as Notre Dame and USC headed to the locker room at halftime, players on both sides got into a scuffle. Eventually, the sidelines cleared. One month later, Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett ripped off the Pittsburgh Steeler’s quarterback Mason Rudolph's helmet and struck him on the head during the final seconds of Thursday Night Football. During that same season, numerous teams were penalized and suspended due to fights during their games; South Florida and UCF, Miami and Florida St., Virginia and Virginia Tech, Texas and Oklahoma--the list goes on.

In competition, I understand athletes can get incredibly psyched up and motivated. But that emotion has been placed in the wrong direction. It's about competing, not hurting. It's about using your skill to be successful, not as a weapon. There is no excuse for purposely hurting others in competition or outside of competition--it's evil.

Walk away from competition, and we witness anger in our schools, workplaces, parking lots and especially politics. Where is the peace?

So, remove your anger and rage. Take it off like a smelly, sweaty piece of clothing. Instead of acting in an evil manner and behavior, be kind to each other. Forgive each other. God's Words are eternal. What God said thousands of years ago are still meant for us today.

When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth. He came to reconcile our broken relationship with God. He came to restore peace between us and God! That same peace we have with God is to be applied with mankind. Jesus came to help us restore peace with God. Jesus then gave us His own Holy Spirit to help us apply peace to each other. 

Allow the peace of God to saturate your soul and rule your daily relationships. Be careful not to swing your words in the same manner that we swing our fists. Walk away from all cutting remarks, backbiting and profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brought us peace—accept it today!