--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of thanking God for my two strong…" description: "\"“Instead of thanking God for my two strong legs that are able to run and jump and climb, I whined about my \"thunder thighs\" and \"thick\" ankles. Instead..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/melody-carlson-14958_amazing-work_instead-of-thanking-god-for-my-two-stron_2203572.jpg" --- # Instead of thanking God for my two strong legs that are… ![“Instead of thanking God for my two strong legs that are able to run and jump and climb, I whined about my "thunder thighs" and "thick" ankles. Instead of rejoicing that I have two capable arms that can lift and carry and balance my body, I complained about the flab that hung beneath them. I have…” quote by Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/melody-carlson-14958_amazing-work_instead-of-thanking-god-for-my-two-stron_2203572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/melody-carlson-14958_amazing-work_instead-of-thanking-god-for-my-two-stron_2203572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/melody-carlson-14958_amazing-work_instead-of-thanking-god-for-my-two-stron_2203572.jpg) > ““Instead of thanking God for my two strong legs that are able to run and jump and climb, I whined about my "thunder thighs" and "thick" ankles. Instead of rejoicing that I have two capable arms that can lift and carry and balance my body, I complained about the flab that hung beneath them. I have been totally and unbelievably ungrateful for everything. Like a completely spoiled brat, I took my healthy body for granted. I criticized it and despised it. With crystal clarity, I know that I do not deserve the good health that God has mysteriously blessed me with. Not only have I been unappreciative of my body and its amazing working parts, I tortured it by overexercising, and I put my entire health at serious risk by starving myself. What on earth was wrong with me? As I watch these kids with their less-than-perfect bodies, I feel so thoroughly ashamed of myself. I mean, how could I have been so stupid and shallow and self-centered?”” [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on chronic ingratitude toward their own body, recognizing self‑criticism, unhealthy habits, and a sense of unworthiness despite good health. **In simple terms:** Self‑criticism and neglect of a healthy body. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude and self‑compassion. Themes gratitude self‑acceptance health mindset spirituality Mood reflective hopeful serious Type personal motivational philosophical When to use this quote - daily self‑reflection - exercise moderation - mindful eating - body‑positive affirmations - seeking counseling Key Concepts self‑compassion body awareness gratitude practice Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice daily gratitude for your body? - What habits can replace self‑punishment with care? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism may mask deeper psychological issues requiring professional help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazing work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-work/) [Good health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-health/) [Healthy body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-body/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Spoiled brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoiled-brat/) [Strong legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-legs/) [Thankfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankfulness/) [Thanking god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanking-god/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think I've ever felt terribly comfortable writing about my body. First of all, I think I took my body for granted for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-kumin/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-felt-terribly-comfortable-writing-about-my/) [Maxine Kumin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-kumin/) > [Don't take your health for granted. Don't take your body for granted. Do something today that communicates to your body that you desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/don-t-take-your-health-for-granted-don-t-take-your-body-for-granted/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) > [The body is an amazing system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitabh-bachchan/the-body-is-an-amazing-system/) [Amitabh Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitabh-bachchan/) > [Your body's an amazing machine and it's created to do stuff. See what you can get out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-froning-jr/your-body-s-an-amazing-machine-and-it-s-created-to-do-stuff-see-what/) [Rich Froning Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-froning-jr/) > [Body positivity, to me, is finally being able to see my body for the amazing machine it is. Now I am looking at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tisca-chopra/body-positivity-to-me-is-finally-being-able-to-see-my-body-for-the/) [Tisca Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tisca-chopra/) > [Your body is an amazing creation, capable of performing great wonders, but you can destroy that miraculous machine's potential with an overdose of stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-johnson/your-body-is-an-amazing-creation-capable-of-performing-great-wonders/) Harry Johnson > [Working with Balanced Body has been amazing. It's become a big part of my routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dalton/working-with-balanced-body-has-been-amazing-it-s-become-a-big-part-of/) [Andy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dalton/) > [When it's hot, there's no hiding. You have to face yourself and your neighbors and your body... and that's an amazing, happy thing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/when-it-s-hot-there-s-no-hiding-you-have-to-face-yourself-and-your/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [The body is an amazing machine... If you eat the right things your body will perform incredibly well!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-johnson/the-body-is-an-amazing-machine-if-you-eat-the-right-things-your-body/) [Shawn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-johnson/) > [The body can do amazing things in a situation when it is really called for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/the-body-can-do-amazing-things-in-a-situation-when-it-is-really/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [Kicks are my forte. I've got strong legs and high kicks. 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You just need your imagination, strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/football-has-that-wonderful-gift-of-being-accessible-you-don-t-need/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [“Jesus, you never fail to surprise me, baby.” He’s supporting the heavy bike, and us, with his strong legs braced on either side. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-proby/jesus-you-never-fail-to-surprise-me-baby-he-s-supporting-the-heavy/) [Kristen Proby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-proby/) ## More by Melody Carlson > [“Stay on good terms with each other,’ ” he read slowly, putting emphasis on each word, “‘held together by love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/stay-on-good-terms-with-each-other-he-read-slowly-putting-emphasis-on/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [Girls can be so petty and jealous. I swear they're worse than guys sometimes. Except they're all quiet about it. 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I mean, I suppose it's kinda flattering when a girl likes you so much that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/most-guys-don-t-like-to-be-pursued-like-that-i-mean-i-suppose-it-s/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [A book is kind of like a river; I simply jump in and start swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/a-book-is-kind-of-like-a-river-i-simply-jump-in-and-start-swimming/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [“...you don't fully appreciate what you've got until something threatens to take it away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/you-don-t-fully-appreciate-what-you-ve-got-until-something-threatens/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [“Sometimes you have to just go for what you want. Take the risk in order to get the reward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/sometimes-you-have-to-just-go-for-what-you-want-take-the-risk-in/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [“Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/why-some-have-extended-hospitality-to-angels-without-ever-knowing-it/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [I don't usually think of my writing as a 'challenge' because I enjoy the process so much. 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And if there are moderate ways to improve our looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/i-think-we-all-need-to-learn-to-like-ourselves-just-the-way-we-are/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [“a planner-the sort of person who could size up a situation and take control and be rewarded with a good outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/a-planner-the-sort-of-person-who-could-size-up-a-situation-and-take/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [“I’ll never be lonely Even if I am alone For I've a precious Savior Who’ll come to take me home. But while I’m here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/i-ll-never-be-lonely-even-if-i-am-alone-for-i-ve-a-precious-savior/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [I grew up in a difficult environment, but I became a Christian as a teen. My mom and my sister soon became Christians also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/i-grew-up-in-a-difficult-environment-but-i-became-a-christian-as-a/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) [Explore all 44 Melody Carlson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) ## More Amazing work quotes > [Most of my writer friends are women, and they're all extremely talented, so of course I think the state of contemporary fiction for women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/most-of-my-writer-friends-are-women-and-they-re-all-extremely/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [“The sheer size, extent, and magnitude of the blood vessels tell us two things: the awesomeness of God’s work in man and the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-okoro/the-sheer-size-extent-and-magnitude-of-the-blood-vessels-tell-us-two/) [Pedro Okoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-okoro/) > [I've always been a fan of the home workout. 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I have been totally and unbelievably ungrateful for everything. Like a completely spoiled brat, I took my healthy body for granted. I criticized it and despised it. With crystal clarity, I know that I do not deserve the good health that God has mysteriously blessed me with. Not only have I been unappreciative of my body and its amazing working parts, I tortured it by overexercising, and I put my entire health at serious risk by starving myself. What on earth was wrong with me? As I watch these kids with their less-than-perfect bodies, I feel so thoroughly ashamed of myself. 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