thankful

be grateful for small mercies

To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages, or opportunities one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating, or unfortunate situation or circumstance. My car's air conditioning stopped working two hours into my cross-country road trip across America. The radio still works, though, so I guess I should be grateful for small mercies. Our son's accident left him without the use of his right eye; we're just grateful for small mercies that he still has the use of his left one.
See also: grateful, mercy, small

be thankful for small blessings

To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages, or opportunities that one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating, or unfortunate situation or circumstance. My car's air conditioning stopped working two hours into my cross-country road trip across America. The radio still works, though, so I guess I should be thankful for small blessings. Our son's accident left him without the use of his right eye. We're just thankful for small blessings that he still has the use of his left one.
See also: blessing, small, thankful

be thankful for small favors

To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages, or opportunities that one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating, or unfortunate situation or circumstance. My car's air conditioning stopped working two hours into my cross-country road trip across America. The radio still works, though, so I guess I should be thankful for small favors. Our son's accident left him without the use of his right eye. We're just thankful for small favors that he still has the use of his left one.
See also: favor, small, thankful

be thankful for small mercies

To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages, or opportunities one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating, or unfortunate situation or circumstance. My car's air conditioning stopped working two hours into my cross-country road trip across America. The radio still works, though, so I guess I should be thankful for small mercies. Our son's accident left him without the use of his right eye; we're just thankful for small mercies that he still has the use of his left one.
See also: mercy, small, thankful
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*thankful for small blessings

grateful for any small benefits or advantages one has, especially in a generally difficult situation. (Typically: be ~; become ~.) We have very little money, but we must be thankful for small blessings. At least we have enough food. Bob was badly injured in the accident, but at least he's still alive. Let's be thankful for small blessings.
See also: blessing, small, thankful
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

be grateful for small mercies

or

be thankful for small mercies

COMMON If you are grateful for small mercies or are thankful for small mercies in a generally bad situation, you are glad about any aspects of it that are good. He is still receiving some money — the modest sum earmarked for young athletes — and is grateful for small mercies. In these difficult times, one can only be thankful for small mercies — that borrowing costs are relatively low. Note: People sometimes say thank heavens for small mercies or thank God for small mercies to show that they are glad about any good aspects of a generally bad situation. She is now serving a 12-month prison sentence and the baby is with her parents. Thank heavens for small mercies.
See also: grateful, mercy, small
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

be thankful (or grateful) for small mercies

be relieved that an unpleasant situation is alleviated by minor advantages.
See also: mercy, small, thankful
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

be grateful/thankful for small ˈmercies

be happy that a bad situation is not even worse: The thieves took the TV and stereo but didn’t take any jewellery, so let’s be thankful for small mercies.
See also: grateful, mercy, small, thankful
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be grateful for small blessings
  • be grateful for small mercies
  • be grateful/thankful for small mercies
  • be thankful for small blessings
  • be thankful for small favors
  • be thankful for small mercies
  • give thanks for small blessings
  • give thanks for small mercies
  • grateful
  • thankful for small blessings
References in periodicals archive
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Thankfulness is good for our body and soul
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Dermot said he's "very thankful" he met Michael who died in May after a tragic accident.
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I cook Thanksgiving dinner for our extended family these days, then we all sit in the living room, in a circle, and share one thing that we are thankful for right at this moment.
Feeling thankful in the current climate isn't easy for us all
In fact, Butterton is a Double Thankful parish - because it also survived World War Two without loss of life.
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