Giving is Gratitude in Motion
“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35 NLT)
As we enter this season of thanksgiving, I have been reflecting on how giving and gratitude move together in the same beautiful rhythm. Giving is not only an action of the hands. It is an overflow of the heart. And when we give, especially when we have little to offer, we express our deepest gratitude to God for who He is and for all He has done. Giving truly becomes gratitude in motion.
From the time I was a child, giving to others brought me a sense of purpose. I always loved helping people feel encouraged, especially when they felt hopeless or unsure of their next step. That desire to lift others up only grew stronger when I gave my life to Christ. When I became a single mom of four, with no child support and very little income, I discovered that giving was never about how much I had. It was about trusting the God who promises to provide.
Philippians 4:19 in the New Living Translation says, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” During those five challenging years, my financial income came only from teaching fitness classes at the YMCA. I earned seven dollars a class. Seven dollars to provide groceries, diapers, clothes, gas, and every need my children had. Yet even when I could not give money, I could still give encouragement. I could still give hope. I could still give joy in the form of Rice Krispie treats for my children’s teachers, even when it was the only thing I could afford.
One Sunday morning, early in my walk with Christ, I arrived at church knowing I had only two dollars left in my purse. Payday was still several days away. As the offering was received, I felt the Lord reminding me of Acts 20:35. I whispered, “Lord, this is all I have,” and I placed the two dollars into the offering plate. I was not trying to be heroic. I was simply trying to obey. I asked God to multiply it and to help me trust Him fully.
Walking out to my car after the service, I opened the door and froze. Lying on the front seat was two hundred dollars in cash. My car was so old and worn out that I did not bother locking it. There was nothing inside worth stealing, except the miracle God had placed there. Still stunned, I drove home and walked up to the porch to find an ample supply of diapers neatly stacked by the door. No note. No explanation. Just provision. Abundant, timely, and unmistakably from God.
“Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11 NLT)
In that moment, I stood in awe of His goodness, knowing that He had seen me, heard me, and cared for me and my children in a deeply personal way. I will never forget what God did for us during those years. He supplied every need we had, often through anonymous givers who were obedient to His voice. He protected us, strengthened us, and carried us. And at the end of that five-year season, He blessed me with a God-fearing husband who has walked beside me in life and ministry ever since.
As I teach fitness classes today, giving remains one of my greatest joys. I give my students my strength, encouragement, and the Word of God. I share the truth found in Philippians 4:13 NLT, which says, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” I remind them that working out is not just about physical strength. It is about spiritual discipline. It is choosing to move our bodies while keeping our eyes on the One who holds us together.
Giving is one of the most powerful ways to express gratitude. It turns thanksgiving from a holiday, or a feeling, into a loving action. Every encouraging word you speak, every smile you offer, every prayer you lift, and every act of kindness you give becomes a way of saying, “Lord, thank You. I trust You.”
This Thanksgiving, I pray that you experience the joy that comes from giving. God can take our smallest offering and multiply it in miraculous ways. He did it for me. He can do it for you.
