WALKING THE PATH OF GRIEF

Whether dealing with the death of a loved one or suffering a loss on the farm, grief is a process that can't be rushed

- Lisa Foust Prater

Losing a loved one is a life-altering experience. Your world is shattered, your heart is broken, and your grief can be overwhelming. You will never get over it. You will never be the same.

For farm families, grief can also come from the loss of a crop, the death of livestock, or damaged family relationships. Grief is certainly felt when a farmer is no longer a farmer, whether that’s through the loss of the farm or a retirement, even under the best of circumstances. While these events may not be as devastating as a death in the family, the grief that accompanies them is still very real.

Larry Tranel is a dairy field specialist with Iowa State University Extension and also works in bereavement ministry. He says grief is a unique healing process. No two people experience it in exactly the same way or at the same pace.

“Grief is normal and can even be healthy as one reacts to the loss of something that is loved and cherished,” Tranel says. “The goal is not to get over it, but to savor the memories of what was lost and process through grief to return to a meaningful life in one’s own time.”

Help for the Grieving