You graduated high school.  It was time for you to move on and leave our youth group.  Because that is the natural progression of things.  Someone else was called to lead the younger girls.  

“I’ve been replaced,” you said.

“Not at all!” I reassured.  “You can never be replaced.”

At the end of summer, it was time for you to move away for college.  Because that is the natural progression of things. Your replacement in the youth group also took your old job in the community.

“I’ve been replaced,” you said.

“Not at all!” I reassured.  “It’s just a coincidence.”

A new girl moved in and started attending our youth group.  Because that is the natural progression of things.  I watched her face when confronted with unpleasantness.  She kept a cool, serene expression.  Underneath the calmness I can only imagine what was turning and burning.  She is a sweet girl that everyone loves.  But I bet she has no clue that her own coolness meter is off the charts.  And I realized, she reminds me of…you.

So, I hope we never again have the discussion where you say, “I’ve been replaced.”

Because I might have to reply, “Ok, now, maybe.”

(Just in case you happen to read this, let me hastily add a 😉 and a LOL to make it all better.  And maybe a JK.  Now you can return with a HAHAHA and we’ll be ROFL, right? Emoticons and acronyms pretty much allow us to say anything we want nowadays and still remain friends.)