Deck of Cards

This is a story about a soldier in the North Africa Campaign in WW 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 book. The Chaplain noticed one soldier looking at a
deck of cards. After the service, the Chaplain took him to see the major.
The Chaplain explained 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 only one God and no
other. When I see the TWO, it reminds me that there are two parts of the
bible, the old testament and the new testament. The THREE tells me of the
Trinity, God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit. The FOUR
reminds me of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. When I see
the FIVE, it tells me of the five unwise virgins who were lost and that
five were saved. The SIX makes me mindful that God created the earth in
six days, and God said it was good. When I see the SEVEN, it reminds me
that God rested on the seventh day. As I look at the EIGHT, it reminds me
that God destroyed all life by water except eight people, Noah, his wife,
and their three sons and their wives. When I see the NINE, I think of the
nine lepers that God healed. There were l0 lepers in all, but only one
stopped to thank him. The TEN 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 three hundred and sixty five spots on a deck of
cards that is the number of days in each year. There are fifty two cards
to a deck, and that is the number of weeks in a year. There are twelve
picture cards and that is the number of months in a year. There are four
different suits in a deck and that is the number of season 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, prayer
book, and my almanac. A deck of cards should most importantly remind us
that we need Jesus three hundred and sixty five days, fifty two weeks, and
twelve months a year, and that we should pray for others. The soldier was
dismissed.

Written by "T." Texas Tyler in 1948  recorded by Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Wink
Martindale and others.