This would make a nice gift for someone passing through life’s darker tunnel.

The longer title, “Trusting God When You Have Cancer: Help and hope for the road ahead,” clues you to the stuff between the covers.

Written by Ron Pinkston and Jerry Cook this one is a little different. It contains letters these men wrote to one another while suffering the indignities of cancer. A little like Jefferson and Adams corresponding about the indignities of old age.

Ron is forthright and honest about his fear and suffering. The rest is vintage Jerry Cook. The guy’s insight reminds you of C.S. Lewis (In fact, if you like this book, go treat yourself to his “Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness.”

Jerry’s take on the loveliness of “denial” is enough to make the book worth every penny. You know–denial that negative thought process that keeps you from facing reality in its ugly face. Well Cook thinks you need a denial day every few weeks… in fact he scheduled them and went on a picnic or some other such cancer-defying activity.

You’ll smile as these two friends grow stronger and their friendship deepens through the journey. At just 48 pages this is a healer for anyone facing similar trials.

My wife struggled through breast cancer seven years ago. It was no party. If we could have read this book, together, right after the first horrifying doctor visit and again during the green-around-the-gills and red popcycle days of chemo we’d have been far better prepared for those wretched days.