I have been lucky, way more luckier than most. I have three kids and they are all healthy, not even allergies or anything like that.
Me and my wife also are healthy.
Sure we do not have money, but that because of the 
government. (In this country, they like to take)

How do I express my gratitude is simple.

I do charity and help people as much as I can.
My daily job is with the youths and adults who have special needs, and wife works with kids who have special needs.

Sad thing about that is the salary, work is really tough and hard, still you get only small amount of money for living and raising family.

I think that best way of showing gratitude is to give back something, even if you have nothing more than time.

Time is the most valuable thing which we have.

If someone helps me or do something and I must show my gratitude, I do it by cooking.
Food is always good choice, because if you choose the right time, people get hungry for sure.

Once years back, I had one old lady working at the office where we got our salary.
It’s on the other town and I never have seen her, but she was the one who got the salary moving on the right day.
When she retired, I did express my gratitude by sending flowers to her, even I never have seen her.

She called me after receiving the flowers and said: “I have never experienced something like this before, thank you” I said to her: “No than you for the important work you have done many years” She started crying… She was happy and so was I.

Also when I like to show my gratitude on little things, I do handicrafts.
One time I did a small painting for the Indian restaurant owner. That place is still my favorite place to eat, and Every time I visit, owner comes to have a talk, even I see how busy he is.

Yours. “Helping hippie” Jay