“Like a receipt, our gratitude is evidence of the transaction of grace from God.” Joshua Choonmin Kang

Gratitude: Evidence of the Transaction of Grace from God

Posted on by Michele Morin

With eyes sparkling, my grandson came to the door, cookie in hand, and grinned through the window. He waved at me with his free hand and then pointed to the cookie.

“Thanks, Bam!” he shouted and with a leap, he was off the deck and on to more important business, but the moment stopped me in my tracks, because his smiling-eyed joy was contagious, and the gift of gratitude he flashed through streaked window glass stayed with me like a benediction.

Joshua Choonmin Kang has put words around my feeling of that day and extended them to probe my own practice of thanksgiving:

“Gratitude is an expression of appreciation, an articulation of what we have received.  Like a receipt, our gratitude is evidence of the transaction of grace from God.”

Holding the receipt of my grandson’s gratitude in my hand, I wonder… could it be that what we all need in November of 2020 is a new lexicon for our language of gratitude?

Could it be that what we all need in November of 2020 is a new lexicon for our language of gratitude?

My grandson’s simple “Thanks, Bam” opens my heart to the need for a more spontaneous expression of gratitude to God. My imagination challenges me to find words to treasure the small things, for the ordinary miracles of cold drinking water and a chair in the sunshine.  I want to slow down for prayer and to stake out moments for pondering the latitude of suffering and the longitude of glory that crisscross through my every day. 

A spirituality that is founded in gratitude is anchored securely by roots that have been sent deep into God’s love and will result in a life that reflects God’s “image with ever-increasing glory.”  Let’s get started…

What are you grateful for today?

Inviting you into the music of gratitude,

Michele Morin

Announcing…

The Build-Your-Library Book Give Away!

If you’ve been meaning to enrich your reading life with more books written by Christian women, this is your opportunity to win twelve books written by women of faith (and fellow members of the Redbud Writers Guild). Covering a wide range of topics and genres, the give away includes:
The God Dare by Kate Battistelli
The View from Goose Ridge by Cheryl Bostrom
*Making Marriage Beautiful by Dorothy Greco
*Mythical Me by Richella Parham
Finding Holy in the Suburbs by Ashley Hales
*First Ask Why by Shelly Wildman
Beyond Awkward Side Hugs by Bronwyn Lea
*A Prayer for Orion by Katherine James
Mom Seeks God by Julia Roller
Always There by Anne Peterson
*Soul Strong by Lucinda Secrest McDowell
No More Fear by JoHannah Reardon

The asterisk means it’s a book I’ve reviewed here at Living Our Days, and you can click on the title to learn more.

To enter the drawing, head over to your favorite social media (Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter) and follow me there. Then, leave a comment here saying where you clicked “follow” and which of the twelve books you’d probably read first. You have until next Wednesday to enter, and the winner will be notified on Thursday, November 12.

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Photo by eleni koureas on Unsplash

Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and five adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

70 thoughts on “Gratitude: Evidence of the Transaction of Grace from God”

  3. Ah, yes, you are right! I am grateful for an amazing Christian internist physician whom God used to spare my husband twice in recent months. In June in a pre-op appointment for a surgical procedure by another physician he ordered an EKG without a specific reason that discovered my husband needed a pacemaker for a heart that was often beating too slowly. Last week when our cardiologist was not returning a phone call about symptoms my husband was concerned about for two days, the internist saw him within an hour and he was transported from his office across an interstate to the hospital due to a significant heart issue related to the pacemaker and a medication prescribed the previous week by the cardiologist. This internist of ours starts his day before seeing patients with prayer asking for the Lord to use him to see clearly and recognize issues he must not miss. Grateful – so grateful! He purchased the private practice from our retiring internist several years ago and we were uncertain what we would have in the new doctor whom we had liked. In truth, this new physician is the best doctor we have ever had. Thank you, Lord!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Hey Michele, A great invitation to express gratitude in the everyday moments. I was sharing this morning how I’m grateful for old fashioned clocks that don’t automatically change at daylight savings and for accidentally falling asleep putting my daughter to bed…it made me feel like I actually got an extra hour on Sunday and some really great sleep! 😉 What a great book list! I’d probably read Mom Seeks God first. I’m active on IG and followed you there as @lovinlifewithlittles. Have a beautiful weekend!

      Like

  5. Michele, it’s amazing how often you and I consider the same things. I have recently been thinking about transactions and transactional relationships too. I think while there is considerable evidence in Scripture for us to avoid transactional relationships, (the you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours kind), God’s grace comes to us with no strings attached. Just like the cookie from Bam! 🙂

    Like

  9. Michele, “Making Marriage Beautiful” is the title from your list that I would most like to read. Today, I’m grateful that my daughter has deemed her first birthday away from home to be her best one yet. (It stings a bit, too, but I would much prefer that she have a wonderful day than a hard one.) And I have to tell you, out of all the nicknames grandchildren give their grandparents, “Bam” has to be one of the best ones yet!

    Like

  11. Oh we can learn so much from children! I have to say – I am not sure which book I would read as you always share wonderful books. Today I am grateful for sitting in front of a sunny window, My Bible, and my coffee 🙂

    Like

  20. So many times we fail to stop and give thanks when we all have something to be thankful for! Such a wonderful and inspiring giveaway! Mythical Me sounds like the first one I would read. Followed you on FB and Twitter but was already following you on Instagram. Thanks so much for linking up at our party – #FaithAndWorshipChristianWeekend 8. Shared.

    Like

  22. Thank you for such a sweet picture of giving thanks.
    I’m following on Facebook and Instagram and would like to start with Beyond awkward side hugs! I’m on a fellowship kick and that sounds like a good one.

    Like

  23. Michelle,
    Thanks so much for your visits!! As you know, I chose Gratitude for my Word of the Month for November….At the end of each day, I think of 5 things that I am grateful for that day….It is very humbling…
    Stay safe and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

    Like

  24. I’m grateful today for…Net Galley. 🙂 I thank God that there is such an easy way to get free new books to read more about him and his people and his world. Thanks for how you share the books you read, Michele!

    Like

  26. Just this morning I recorded in my gratitude journal the blessing of Indian summer and right now I’m sitting on our deck (cozy in my fleece jacket) as I respond to blogger friends. Squirrels chatter, bird twitter, and a deer just paid a brief visit. We’re supposed to have six days of mild temperatures–how delightful is that?

    Like

  27. Often the most powerful glimpses of gratitude are free, like a smile and thanks, Bam. Love this story. One thing I am grateful for today is lunch with my friend. We caught up and laughed a lot.

    Like

  30. My grandchild isn’t really talking yet, but they give the biggest of smiles when you hand them their drink or food. Thanks for linking with #pocolo and hope to see you back later this week

    Like

  31. “Gratitude is an expression of appreciation, an articulation of what we have received. Like a receipt, our gratitude is evidence of the transaction of grace from God.” I love this quote and the story about your grandson. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth. I love having you a part of our community. Maree

    Like

  32. Grandchildren are such an amazing gift! “An old man’s joy is his children’s children” I love this message about spontaneous gratitude! I’ve hit the like button on Facebook. Of the listed books, I am most interested in reading “No More Fear” by JoHannah Reardon so that one would probably be first. Thank you for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

    Like

  33. ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    ********************************************************

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Another great post to make us think! It’s so sad to find people who can’t seem to appreciate anything in their lives.

    Thanks for sharing your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!

    Like

  35. What an inspiring post. A very much needed reminder of my desire to have as you say, a ” spontaneous expression of gratitude to God.” Thanks for linking up with us at the #FaithAndWorshipChristianWeekend 9. I follow you on all 3 and I would like to read “The God Dare”

    Like

  36. Gratitude is so important! I must admit, I always thought I was grateful but the pandemic has taught me I had no idea how much more we had to be grateful for. I’m making a real effort to thank God daily for our blessings – and not miss any out! Thank you for sharing, Michele, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party.

    Like

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