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 service 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 is 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; There are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

* When I see the 5, it tells me of the five unwise virgins who were lost, and the 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, I remembered that God destroyed all life by water except eight people. There were Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives.

* When I see the 9, I think of the nine ungrateful lepers that God healed. There were ten in all, but only one came back 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, he devours those he can.

* When I look at the Queen, I see 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 cards to a suit, the number of months in a quarter.

* There are 13 suits, 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, my Prayer book, and my Almanac."