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Loving Your Friend Through Cancer is an excellent read by author and cancer survivor Marissa Henley. I had never read a book of this type before and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although this book speaks specifically to walking alongside a friend as they suffer from cancer, most of the principles could apply to any season of physical suffering. I encourage all Christians to read this book so that they can be equipped to provide Biblical care to individuals suffering from cancer. Loving Your Friend Through Cancer is a tough but necessary read. It’s not tough in the sense that it’s difficult to comprehend, it’s tough because the stories told within its pages are deeply personal. As a mama to a two year old girl, I had to wipe tears from my eyes as I read about Marissa questioning whether or not she would even live to see her baby girl begin elementary school. As someone who has not experienced cancer, I’m thankful for Marissa’s honesty because it has helped me realize the need to continually cultivate compassion within my own heart. I LOVE that Marissa encourages the friends of cancer patients to not use religious platitudes when it comes to offering comfort as these are unhelpful and discouraging. She also reminds friends to be good listeners, a quality that sounds simple but often requires much practice.
She also reminds people not to assume someone is suffering from cancer due to sin or a lack of faith as both options are entirely unbiblical. This thought made me realize the importance of not being like Job’s friends who sought to associate his suffering with his sin. Even though you may not currently have a friend with cancer, I still urge you to read this book so you may gain a heart of wisdom when it comes to compassionately caring for others in a Biblical way. In addition to the specific bits of information that are helpful in caring for a friend with cancer, the book contains many practical suggestions at the end of each chapter that can be applied to many situations that involve caring for others. Included in the back of the book is an in-depth resources section that covers A Biblical View of Suffering, Verses to Share with Your Friend, and much more.
I thoroughly enjoyed Loving Your Friend Through Cancer and give it my highest recommendation. I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses this book to comfort His children as they battle cancer and other sufferings this side of heaven.
Loving Your Friend Through Cancer is available now at all major booksellers.
I received Loving Your Friend Through Cancer compliments of P&R Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
