A YOUNG SOLDIER WAS IN HIS BARRACKS ALL ALONE ONE SUNDAY MORNING. IT WAS QUIET THAT DAY.  THE GUNS, THE MORTARS AND LAND MINES, FOR SOME REASON, HAD NOT MADE ANY NOISE.  THE YOUNG SOLDIER KNEW IT WAS SUNDAY, THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE WEEK.   AS HE WAS SITTING THERE, HE GOT OUT AN OLD DECK OF PLAYING CARDS AND LAID THEM OUT ACROSS HIS BUNK.   JUST THEN, HIS SERGEANT CAME IN AND ASKED,
"WHY AREN’T YOU WITH THE REST OF THE PLATOON?"
THE SOLDIER REPLIED, "I THOUGHT I WOULD STAY BEHIND AND SPEND SOME OF MY TIME WITH THE LORD."
THE SEGEANT SAID, "LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO PLAY CARDS."
THE SOLDIER SAID, "NO SIR. YOU SEE, SINCE WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE BIBLES OR OTHER SPIRITUAL BOOKS IN THIS COUNTRY, I’VE DECIDED TO TALK TO THE LORD BY STUDYING THIS DECK OF CARDS."
THE SERGEANT ASKED IN DISBIELF "HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?"
"LET ME EXPLAIN, SERGEANT," REPLIED THE SOLDIER."

     THE ACE REMINDS ME THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.  
     THE TWO REPRESENTS THE TWO PARTS OF THE BIBLE, THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.
     THE THREE REPRESENTS THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

     THE FOUR STANDS FOR THE FOUR APOSTLES; MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN.

     THE FIVE IS FOR THE FIVE VIRGINS; THERE WERE TEN BUT ONLY FIVE OF THEM WERE GLORIFIED.

     THE SIX IS FOR THE SIX DAYS IT TOOK GOD TO CREATE THE HEAVENS AND EARTH.

     THE SEVEN IS FOR THE DAY GOD RESTED AFTER WORKING SIX DAYS.

     THE EIGHT IS FOR THE FAMILY OF NOAH AND HIS WIFE, THEIR THREE SONS AND THEIR WIVES THAT GOD SAVED FROM THE FLOOD THAT DESTROYED THE EARTH FOR THE FIRST TIME.

     THE NINE IS FOR THE LEPERS THAT JESUS CLEANSED OF LEPROSY. HE CLEANSED TEN BUT NINE NEVER THANKED HIM.

     THE TEN REPRESENTS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THAT GOD HANDED DOWN TO MOSES ON TABLETS MADE OF STONE.

      THE JACK IS A REMINDER OF SATAAN, ONE OF GOD’S FIRST ANGELS, BUT HE GOT KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN FOR HIS SLY AND WICKED WAYS AND IS NOW THE JOKER OF ETERNAL HELL.

     THE QUEEN STANDS FOR THE VIRGIN MARY.

     THE KING STANDS FOR JESUS, FOR HE IS THE KING OF KINGS.

     WHEN I COUNT THE DOTS ON ALL THE CARDS, I COME UP WITH A TOTAL OF 365, ONE FOR EACH DAY OF THE YEAR.   HERE ARE A TOTAL OF 52 CARDS IN A DECK, SIGNIFYING THE FIFTY-TWO WEEKS IN A YEAR. 
     THE FOUR SUITS REPRESENT THE FOUR SEASONS; SPRING, SUMMER, FALL AND WINTER. 
     EACH SUIT HAS THIRTEEN CARDS AND THERE ARE EXACTLY THIRTEEN WEEKS IN A QUARTER. 
     SO, SERGEANT, WHEN I WANT TO TALK WITH GOD AND THANK HIM, I JUST PULL OUT THIS OLD DECK OF CARDS AND THEY REMIND ME OF ALL I HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR."
     THE SERGEANT JUST STOOD THERE AND AFTER A MOMENT, WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES AND PAIN IN HIS HEART ASKED, " SOLDIER, CAN I BORROW THAT DECK OF CARDS?"
     PLEASE LET THIS BE A REMINDER AND TAKE TIME TO PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE BEING SENT AWAY, PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, FIGHTING FOR US.