"That Tankard"

A dear friend of ours left this whimsical note on Facebook:

“Visiting your page is my daily inspiration. Keep it coming! Have you ever thought about writing a book? Stop holding back! … that TANKARD, …open it up and let it flow.” (out of your spirit) - Gerard Shine

At first glance that sounds a little…strange at best. That is, unless you understand what a literal “tankard” is.

It is no coincidence that you can’t spell tankard without  “tank.”  The earliest forms of the word meant tub-like or tank-like vessels for carrying water.    Tankard – according to Merriam-Webster, is  “a tall one-handled drinking vessel; especially : a silver or pewter mug with a lid.” Other definitions describe a tankard as a “large” drinking vessel.

Simply put, a tankard can hold a lot of water . A tankard is not designed to house your fun-size, single serving, just-enough-to-wet-your-lips amount of water. When you have a tankard full to the brim with refreshing, life-giving water, you have enough to quench your thirst and your neighbor’s as well.

We know that as we each go hiking along through life, each of us is responsible for carrying his own rucksack containing whatever is needed for sustenance, safety, and hygiene. Yet sometimes, try as we might, we cannot help running short on what we need to take those few more steps just ahead. We need to keep moving, but we want to sit. We need to stay alert and vigilant, but we want nothing more than to sleep, wishing/hoping that all the inevitable challenges of our journey will just pack themselves up in a tidy little bag and be gone by the time we wake up.

Isn’t it refreshing when you’ve got that one camper in your party who – you don’t know how – but they always seem to have more than enough refreshment to share?

Where did he get all the extra snacks from? I don’t know, but it’s just what I needed; I was about to pass out.

How could she have fit that extra blanket into her pack? I don’t know, but mine got wet and if it weren’t for her spare one, I’d be freezing tonight.

How does he have the energy to keep everyone encouraged and entertained in the middle of nowhere, in these miserable surroundings? I don’t know, but without him we’d all be killing each other.

How in the world did she manage to carry all that extra water, UP HILL, right along with the rest of us, and she has plenty to share with everyone without getting dehydrated herself? I don’t know. All I know is, it’s really good to have a Tankard around.

Written by Chestna Mitchell-Thomas

Below is a photo of a Tankard, a tall one-handled drinking vessel; a silver or pewter mug with a lid, also described as a “large” drinking vessel. In this analogy, a Tankard pours out to help hydrate others. Hopefully, I am doing the same with you through encouragement of the ministry of “Notes of Inspiration” from the Desk of Patrice Tankard.

I pray that God continues to use me to “pour out” to others that which he has asked me to.  Thank you Gerard Shine for the revelation concept of  my gift of encouragement to help others. The Tankard (Patrice Tankard) will pour out that which God commands. It’s all about helping others.

Patrice Tankard-Fletcher

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