The Twin Children of Grace

Gratitude and joy are the twin children of grace, organically joined
both theologically and spiritually. In Greek they are even related linguistically:
the words for grace, gratitude and joy all have the same root, char, a noun that refers to
health and well-being.

“Grace” is charis(χάρις), “gratitude” is eucharistia(εὺχαριστία) , and “joy” is chara(χαρά). 

What is merely a linguistic relationship in Greek is a burning reality in the kingdom of God. …

(As Karl Barth says) “The only answer to charis is eucharistia …
Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth.
Grace evokes gratitude like the voice of an echo.
Gratitude follows grace like thunder and lightning.” 

And as gratitude follows grace, so joy follows gratitude,
for joy is what we feel when we’re hugely grateful.
 

http://signsofgrace.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/the-twin-children-of-grace/