We do indeed have much to be thankful for in the Cayman Islands.

We’ve been blessed with a calm hurricane season.

Pirates Week pushed much-needed dollars into our coffers.

Tourists still find ours an attractive destination.

We have the freedom to speak our minds about various issues and the ability to debate without the outbreak of civil unrest we’ve seen throughout the world.

We have professional and dedicated doctors, nurses and health care providers and institutions that have agreements with hospitals and clinics when our medical needs are too big for what can be found here.

There are countless volunteers who provide for those less fortunate and for our unwanted animals.

We are blessed with a strong financial sector and private businesses that are willing to stick it out for the long haul and yes, some of those businesses actually are training young Caymanians to take the helm in the future.

The blessings go on and on, the Observer on Sunday thinks you get the gist.

That’s why it is only right that we borrow a page from the history of our neighbours to the north and embrace and begin our own tradition of setting aside a time of thanksgiving.

And that’s what this entire weekend has been about; a nation coming together to give thanks.

We thank Samuel Rose and his daughter Kayci for planting the seed of the idea of a Caymanian Thanksgiving and to the committee for picking up the ball to make a country wide celebration possible. There is no doubt this celebration can become an annual ritual between the end of Pirates Week and Christmas. All it takes is our involvement. The reality of this weekend of Thanksgiving and Homecoming begins with you.

Just as American and Canadians travel distances to be with families, it is hoped that the annual event in the Cayman Islands will entice those of us who have made their homes in foreign lands to return home to join us in giving thanks.

Part of the weekend also involves worship; thanking God for all he has blessed us with in the Cayman Islands. We hope those that attend church on Saturday did so with thanks in their heart. If Sunday is your day of worship, we hope you do the same.