There's already been a few posters expressing this same atheist POV
Why gratitude? For what? Grateful to Whom?
But if you hold that view in relation to some supposedly uncaused aspects of existence - sun, air, rain, etc - why not be consistent and assume that there's nothing to be grateful for full stop?
Because as soon as there is a "whom" to answer the "to whom" question then gratitude means something.
Your family and friends are no less a part of the uncaused, deterministic system than everything else. They didn't cause their own existence and their love/altruism is no more 'special' than gravity or electromagnetism.
Yes their love and altruism IS different than gravity because it results from effort on their part and often a sharing of emotion or experience, not to mention a reaction that is triggered by what they see in you.
You really think that a parent's love for a child is no different than gravity?
Awe and joy. These are spiritual expressions.
No, there is no "spirit" or supernatural beings required to feel awe and joy. (have you ever seen a cat look at a christmas tree?)
At all.
What a weird thought. You really think that without spirits you would feel no awe or joy?
Are you one of those people who really wants to be a murderer and rapist and the only thing keeping you from it is fear of god? Or you're actually completely cold and unfeeling and impassive to the world, but only your faith tells you to push the muscles in the corner of your mouth "up"?
Don't you think that describes a very sad life?