#4

If you follow this page for any length of time you will begin to recognize that I believe that numbers can be used as a way to understand God and his teachings. This story my Mom taught me is a bit of an introduction to that belief.

DECK OF CARDS (Part 2)

This is the soldier's explanation for bringing a deck of cards to church:

Sir, we have been on the march for 10 days. I have been without Bible or prayer book -- only this deck of cards to remind me of God and his teachings. When I look at the ace it reminds me that there is but one God; and the deuce reminds me that the Bible is divided into 2 parts, the Old and the New Testaments. When I look at the trey I think of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; and when I look at the 4 I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel--there was Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. When I see the 5 it reminds me of the 5 virgins who trimmed their lamps-- five were wise and were saved; five were foolish and were shut out. When I see the 6 it reminds me that in six days God made this great heaven and earth. When I see the 7 it reminds me that on the seventh day God rested from his great work. When I see the 8 I think of the eight righteous persons that God saved when he destroyed the earth-- there was Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives. When I see the 9, I see the lepers our Saviour cleansed-- nine out of ten never even thanked Him. When I see the 10, I think of the ten commandments God handed down to Moses on tablets of stone.

When I see the king it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven -- God almighty. When I see the queen I think of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is the queen of Heaven; and the Jack of Knaves is the devil.

When I count the number of spots in a deck of cards I find 365--the number of days in a year. There are 52 cards--the number of weeks in a year. There are 4 suits--the number of weeks in a month. There are 12 picture cards--the number of months in a year. There are 13 tricks--the number of weeks in a quarter.

So you see Sir, my pack of cards serves me as my Bible, almanac and prayer book.

This story as told originally by Tex Ritter is reported to be true. I find it true to my memory as being one of the first messages my Mother provided about God and his glory. My God how great thou art.