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 a church service. The men were asked to take out their Bibles or Prayer Books.
The Chaplain noticed one soldier looking at a deck of cards. After service, he was taken by the Chaplain to see the Major. The Chaplain explained to the Major what he had seen. The Major told the young soldier 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 a 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 that there are two parts to the Bible, the OLD TESTAMENT and the NEW TESTAMENT
- 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 tell me of the FIVE UNWISE VIRGINS who were lost and the five were saved.
- The “6” makes me mindful that GOD CREATED THE EARTH IN JUST SIX DAY, and GOD said that it was good.
- GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY.
- As I look at the “8”, it reminds me that GOD DESTROYED ALL LIFE BY WATER EXCEPT FOR EIGHT PEOPLE, Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their three son’s wives.
- When I see the “9”, I think of the NINE LEPERS that GOD healed, There were ten lepers in all, but only one stopped to thank him.
- The “10” reminds 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, he devours those that he can.
- When I look at the “QUEEN”, I see the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS.
- As I look at the last card. ‘THE KING’, it reminds me that JESUS IS LORD OF LORDS and KING OF KINGS.
- There are 365 spots on a deck of cards, and that is the number of days in each year.
- There are 52 cards to deck and that is the number of weeks in a year.
- There are 12 picture cards and that is the number of months in a year.
- There are 4 different suits in a deck and that is the number of months in a quarter of a year…”
And so, the young soldier then said to the Major,”You see, Sir, that my intentions were honorable.My deck of cards serves as by BIBLE, my PRAYER BOOK and my ALMANAC.”
This was a song that was sung as a narrative. It was done by Tex Ritter, Wink Martindale and T. Texas Tyler in 1948
LATER ADDED BY OTHERS
A deck of cards should remind us that we need JESUS 365 days, 52 weeks and 12 months a year and that we should PRAY “4” others.
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