SPRINGFIELD — Even amid great loss, there is much to be thankful for.

I didn’t really understand that until this year. And even then, it took some time. It’s easy to be grateful when things are good, but it can be a process reaching that feeling when things seem immeasurably awful.

In July, my dear friend Emma Shafer died in a sudden, violent way. Her alleged killer is still at large. I wrote about her in a previous column. 

Losing her has been the hardest thing I’ve ever dealt with in my life. But within that grieving process, feelings of gratitude have emerged. 

I’m grateful our lives crossed paths. I’m grateful that I still have a treasure trove of audio messages that I can listen to when I need to hear her voice. I’m grateful for the example she set, which continues to have a positive impact in Springfield and across Illinois. 

I’m grateful for the community that Emma created. Her friends have become my friends. Her family has become mine. We all plan to get together soon for a soup night in her honor.

Emma is gone from this Earth, but never from my mind. For that, I’m grateful.

I’m also incredibly grateful for everyone who reached out with kind messages after reading my column in July. I tried to get back to all of you. But if I missed you, please know that they were received and greatly appreciated. 

Beyond that, I am thankful for my parents and two sisters. As the years go by, I realize more and more how lucky I am to have them. I’m thankful for my friends, old and new. They make life interesting. 

I’m thankful for the little things, like being alive when The Beatles release a new song and I get to hear it for the first time. What a thrill.

I’m also thankful for the opportunity to do this wonderful job. There’s no better beat in journalism than Illinois state government and politics.

As I did the past couple of years, I reached out to an assortment of Illinois elected officials to ask what they are thankful for this year. Their responses are below.

Happy Thanksgiving, Illinois. 

“First and foremost, I’m grateful for my family and friends, their good health and mine. Thank God we live in the greatest state and nation on Earth. I’m proud and grateful for Illinois pumpkin growers who are responsible for the filling in 90% of the world’s pumpkin pies. Thanks to the kindness of people and houses of worship across Illinois, vulnerable families will be served a Thanksgiving meal. I hope this year everyone will pray for peace throughout the world, and I remain grateful as always for the troops who are spending their Thanksgiving protecting us.”

“Many thanks to the exceptional men and women who provide us with the best in health care; to my family which gives me strength and purpose; and to those who devote their lives to help the less fortunate among us.”

“I’m thankful to serve America’s veterans in my role as House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman. It is a privilege for a guy who enlisted in the Marine Corps 44 years ago. At a time when a lot of D.C. politicians can’t seem to get their act together, I am proud that our committee has passed key legislation to protect veterans’ Second Amendment rights and streamline the appeals process for veterans to get their benefits more quickly.

It’s a blessing every time I get to greet dozens of Honor Flight veterans from Southern Illinois when they fly to our nation’s capital to tour their war memorials. Those are the men and women I fight for on the committee each and every day.

I’m just as thankful to represent the hardworking families of Southern Illinois in Congress. We are fortunate to be born and raised in the most wonderful part of this great country. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and may you have a blessed holiday season.”

“I’m thankful for Grandma Budzinski’s dressing, kisses from my dog Lulu and my morning walks in Washington Park.”

“Thanksgiving is an important time for reflection, and this year, I am thankful for my loving family and good health. With so much uncertainty in the world, I am grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States and those serving our country overseas during this holiday. We are blessed to live in a wonderful community in Illinois and I hope everyone throughout our state can enjoy this Thanksgiving with their family, friends, and loved ones.”

“Happy Thanksgiving to Illinois’ 15th Congressional District. I am honored to represent our community in Congress and fight for freedom and the future of our children and grandchildren. We live in the freest nation and the land of opportunity.

Personally, I am so thankful for the relationships I have built with the community in IL-15 and for the close relationships I have with my children and grandchildren.

Wishing God’s continued blessings on our great nation!”

“Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season gives us all a chance to consider what we are thankful for this year. I am most thankful for our veteran community in Central and Northwestern Illinois and around the country. One of the best parts of my job is welcoming the Honor Flights from our district to Washington D.C., so veterans, some who have never been to our nation’s capital, can visit the memorials, view Arlington Cemetery, and remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. So far, I have been able to welcome veterans from the Quad Cities and Peoria. Each visit serves as an important reminder of the people I am working for here in Washington D.C. and how it is critical that their government can give them the tools they need to live comfortably.”

“My Dad, Henry, stopped being able to walk all of a sudden the week he turned 90 in March. After time in the hospital and rehab and many months of physical therapy sessions, he is back walking in the track—maybe a bit slower—but he’s walking nevertheless. I’m so grateful to see him up and about!”

“I am thankful for the opportunity to preside over an office that has as one of its highest priorities to protect children. Whether through our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, our battle against e-cigarette companies that target children, our bipartisan investigation of social media platforms or our work to protect kids from gun violence, I am blessed to have the opportunity and the talented staff to take on this work.”

“I’m thankful for still having my mom and brother with me, given all their health challenges. Thankful for having the world’s most supportive and loving husband. And thankful that God blessed our home and lives with our dynamic, smart and joyful son David. Thankful every day for the greatest staff I could ask for at the Illinois Office of Comptroller. So thankful for the trust of Illinois’ voters and thankful for the honor of representing the best state in America.”

“I am grateful for my 4,000 teammates at the Secretary of State’s office who work tirelessly & passionately to serve all Illinoisans. Together, we launched the “Skip the Line” program at our DMVs, passed our “Right to Read” legislation, implemented various modernization initiatives and much more. I am grateful for their acceptance of me and their willingness to help us transform the entire office. Most importantly, I am thankful for my wife and my three little “honey girls” (my daughters) who bring me a lifetime of joy and happiness every single day. I am truly blessed and enormously grateful.”

“Like many people, I take stock of the things I am thankful for at Thanksgiving. This year, the top of the list is easy: I am thankful for the birth of my sons, Theo and Max. I don’t take their existence for granted.

In vitro fertilization made it possible for Erica and me to conceive, and I am very thankful for the doctors and nurses who helped us through that process. Erica gave birth in June, and Theo had to fight for his life, spending nearly eight weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Northwestern’s Prentice Women’s Hospital. I am incredibly thankful for the doctors and nurses that helped pull Theo through a life-threatening scare.”

“I am thankful for another year serving the people of the great state of Illinois and for the hardworking, dedicated staff without whom nothing would get done at the Capitol. As always, I am also thankful for my family and friends and for the diverse, welcoming community of Oak Park I am lucky to call home.”

“I am most thankful for my wonderful family and friends, both personal and colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly. I am blessed to have two healthy children who keep me young and busy with baseball, dance, basketball, and more. I wake up each day knowing what a privilege it is to serve my community and the state of Illinois, and I am looking forward to another year of growth and happiness.”

“I am thankful for the honor of leading our caucus and our staff in the important work we do in the legislature and for the chance to help our constituents back at home. I’m looking forward to slowing down for a few days and spending time with family.”

“I am thankful for not hosting the holiday this year, and will be enjoying the day with family on the farm!”

“This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the blessings that enrich my family from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am also thankful for the honor to serve the families of my district and to give them a voice on important issues.”

“I am deeply thankful for the unwavering support from my incredible family and friends. My journey as Senator representing the 53rd district has been an extraordinary opportunity that fills my heart with deep appreciation. I am thankful I have one more year left as Senator to continue working with the fantastic communities within the 53rd district and lawmakers in Springfield to help shape the future of Illinois.”

“I am thankful for my family, friends, health, and that I get to represent the people of the 54th District. It’s an incredible honor and I am humbled every time I walk into the Capitol as a state Senator.”

“Camille and I are thankful to be able to have all of our kids home this week, to live in the greatest country that God has ever created, and I feel blessed to represent the people of the ‘Fighting 51st.’”

“I am thankful for every day that God gives me to enjoy good health, my family, and the opportunity to work hard to make my part of the world a little better than I found it. This has been a remarkable year with regard to my personal life and representing the 48th District, and for that I give thanks.”

“This Thanksgiving season, I am thankful for so many things. In addition to the honor of representing the people of the 44th Senate District, I am thankful for my blessings of family, friends, and an abundant harvest. However, my greatest blessing this year is the birth of my new granddaughter! God continues to bless us beyond measure.”