Thanks: a word shaped by thought and grace

Luke 2:36 to 38

‘She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.’

This word card explores the history of ‘thanks’, tracing it from its earliest Germanic roots, where gratitude began as a favourable thought, to the Greek verb used in this verse, built from ideas of grace received and grace returned. The two streams meet in Anna’s response: gratitude shaped by recognition and hope.

Each word card set begins with an image that captures the theme of the word. The following cards trace its story: a main word card (or two, if extended), a junior version with a paler border, an etymological breakdown showing how the word travelled through time, and a list of sources. Some sets also include cards for related words or translations across other languages. Together they show where each word came from, how it changed, and what it still carries with it.