An immaculate blanket of snowfall, the blessing of an unexpected gift, the miracle of a Heavenly Child—surprises are ingrained into the very nature of the Christmas tradition. Yet, when the overwhelming spirit of the holiday season collides with the chance conflicts of everyday life, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the true meaning of Christmas in sight. A Dog in the Manger and Other Christmas Stories is a collection of tales that capture the chaos of the yuletide while also portraying the power of Christmas to shepherd souls of all kinds—young, old, hopeful, lost, content, confused—to confront and redefine faith in the face of spiritual adversity. Sure to inspire reflection and retelling, these stories celebrate the miracles of everyday life, showing that strangers can become angels, foes can become good Samaritans, and neighborhoods can become communities of faith. Even the most chaotic incidents bring people closer to themselves, their families, their communities, and to God during the Christmas season.

"Digging out Christmas amongst the seasonal chaos is the subject of A Dog in the Manger and other Christmas Stories by the Rev. Jim Simons, rector of St. Michael’s of the Valley in Ligonier, Pa. . . .The tales cut to the heart of the meaning of Christmas in the midst of the messiness of everyday life and the extraordinary miracles to be found in the ordinary." - Episcopal Journal

"In A Dog in the Manger and Other Christmas Stories, Jim Simons shares a series of stories he has written for and shared with his congregation as Christmas Eve sermons. The collection makes these available to those of us who love and need stories at Christmastime and throughout the year. This book has the capacity to move even the most reluctant reader.... [Simmons] is able to provide us with new ways to glimpse, touch, and understand the meaning of Christmas. As hearer – participants of Simon's stories, we bring all of our human failings into the sanctuary with us: we are greedy, poor, fearful, guilty, and broken. And in the manger, especially near the manger, we are especially welcome. What we are is what we bring, and as Simons reminds us, what we bring will inevitably be transformed." - Anglican Theological Review