The Deck Of Cards
This is a story about a
soldier in the North Africa Campaign in World War II. After heavy fighting,
the man 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
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 the
Bible, the OLD TESTAMENT and the NEW TESTAMENT. The '3' tells me of the
TRINITY OF GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON and 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 that five were
saved. The '6' makes me mindful that GOD CREATED THE EARTH IN JUST SIX
DAYS, and GOD said that it was good. When I see the '7', it reminds me
that 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 a 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 seasons in 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 my BIBLE, my PRAYER BOOK and my ALMANAC."
A deck of cards should
most importantly remind us that we need JESUS 365 days, 52 weeks and 12
months a year and that we should always PRAY "4" others. May you never
look at a deck of cards the same way.
Visitors since February 2000.