"The Deck of Cards"
This is a story about a soldier in the North Africa Campaign in World War II.
After heavy fighting the men returned to camp. The next day being
Sunday, the Chaplain had set up church service. The men were asked to
take out their Bibles or prayer book. The Chaplain noticed one soldier
looking at a deck of cards. After the sevice he was taken by the
Chaplain to see the Major. The Chaplain explained to the Major of what he
had seen.
The Major told the young soldier how he would have to be punished if
he could not explain himself. The young soldier told the Major that
during the battle he had neither a Bible or prayer book so he would use
his deck of cards and explained....
"You see Sir, when I look at the Ace, it tells me that there is one
God and no other.
When I see the 2 , it reminds me there are two parts of the Bible, the
Old and New Testaments.
The 3 tells me of the Trinity, of God the Father, God the Son and God
the Holy Spirit.
The 4 reminds me of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John.
When I see the 5, it tells me of the five unwise virgins who were lost
and five who were saved.
The 6 makes me mindful that God created the earth in just six days, and
God said that it was good so He rested on the 7th day.
As I look at the 8, God destroyed all life by water except eight
people. There was Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives.
When I see the 9, I think of the nine lepers that God healed.
There were ten in all but only one stopped to Thank Him.
The 10 tells me of the "Ten Commandments" carved in stone by the hand
of God.
The Jack makes me remember the prince of darkness. Like a roaring lion
that devours those he can.
* When I look at the Queen, I see the blessed Mary, Mother of Jesus.
* As I look at the last card I see the KING, this reminds me Jesus is
the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
There are 365 spots on the cards, the number of days in a year.
There are 52 cards to a deck, the number of weeks in a year.
There are 12 picture cards, the number of months in a year.
There are 4 suits, the number of months in a quarter.
There are 13 cards in a suit, the number of weeks in a quarter."
And so the young soldier then said to the Major, "You see Sir that my
intentions were honorable. My deck of cards serves as my Bible, Prayer book
and Almanac."
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