A New York Times reader with a complaint about their octogenarian neighbor’s prayers found themself rebuked by Vice President-elect JD Vance. The anonymous reader sent a question to The New York Times, noting that their 85-year-old neighbor was a “sweet friend and caring person.” The problem, however, was that while this neighbor was “very religious,” the reader described themself as “not at all.” “She prays for me and says it in person, texts and emails for even the most minor of situations,” the reader continued. “I’ve told her my view of religion and that she doesn’t need to pray for me. She said she has to, otherwise she’s not following the Bible. I’m trying to ignore this, but it’s really bothering me that she can’t respect my wishes.”

The question caught the eye of Vance, who shared it on his X account. “What should you do?” he asked. “Accept it as a sweet gesture and stop being a weirdo.” He also told the reader to “consider that the woman praying for her neighbors has it more figured out than the person whining to the paper.” Others agreed with Vance’s take, with one user writing, “Praying for someone is literally the most powerful thing one person can do for another. If you don’t like this you have problems and prayer is even more appropriate.” Another commended the praying neighbor. “The act of praying for one’s neighbors reflects selflessness and a deep connection to community,” wrote the user. “Perhaps she does have it more figured out, offering us an example of love in action. We should all be inspired by such acts of compassion and strive to emulate them.” The responses where similar to the backlash that Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery received when she criticized a flight attendant for wishing her a “blessed” night.

The New York Times’ Kwame Anthony Appiah, who responded to the reader, responded with his own thoughts. “If you don’t think these prayers will do you any good, you presumably also don’t think they’ll do you any harm. By contrast, she thinks that you’ll be worse off without them and that praying for you is her duty,” wrote Appiah. He stated the reader couldn’t really ask their praying neighbor to stop praying but might be able to ask her to stop informing them of her prayers. Yet Appiah suggested the better approach would be to just accept the neighbor. “Still, instead of requiring that your octogenarian neighbor change her ways, I wonder whether you might change yours — and learn to accept this woman for who she is, hearing her prayers as a sincere expression of her loving feelings toward you.”