For months now, we have been preparing to celebrate Christmas.  It's important to understand why we have put so much effort into preparing.

Preparation buys us the freedom to enjoy the next few days with a minimum of work.  Of course, there will still be meals to prepare, tables to set, dishes to do, etc.  But the necessary work is limited.  And that leaves us time to spend with those we love — reading the cards we exchanged, eating the cookies we baked, opening the presents lovingly bought or made and wrapped, enjoying the decorations.

Now, we reap the harvest of our efforts: the joy of our celebration.