Checkout line at store. Told an item was not "christian" to buy

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StrawberryJam

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Checking out in the express lane. 7 items. One item that caught the eye of a woman behind me was Magic Sizing. She looked at me and asked me if Jesus would want me to buy a product that endorsed magic.

I looked at her for a very very long time, and was unable to reply. The checker told her that the product was not at all connected to magic and looked at me with sympathy.
The lady went on to tell me that I should not purchase the item, and that she would go and get me a product that worked even better and would not offend Jesus.
I told her not to go out of her way like that, and if it would make her happy I would simply ask to have the item considered a change of heart and was willing to move on for her sake, not mine.
As I am packing the groceries in the trunk, she is right next to me. Asking me if I am born again.
I said, sorry I have a hard time hearing so I can’t talk now.
This was the worst thing I could have done. Because then she started to pray for me really loudly in the lot.
It was a real scene. Not wanting to hurt this old lady, I just pretended I was hard of hearing and smiled and waved at her. As soon as I could, I got out of there.
I could have been wrong to coddle her like that, but she seemed so fragile.
What should I have done?
 
StrawberryJam said:
Checking out in the express lane. 7 items. One item that caught the eye of a woman behind me was Magic Sizing. She looked at me and asked me if Jesus would want me to buy a product that endorsed magic.

I looked at her for a very very long time, and was unable to reply. The checker told her that the product was not at all connected to magic and looked at me with sympathy.
The lady went on to tell me that I should not purchase the item, and that she would go and get me a product that worked even better and would not offend Jesus.
I told her not to go out of her way like that, and if it would make her happy I would simply ask to have the item considered a change of heart and was willing to move on for her sake, not mine.
As I am packing the groceries in the trunk, she is right next to me. Asking me if I am born again.
I said, sorry I have a hard time hearing so I can’t talk now.
This was the worst thing I could have done. Because then she started to pray for me really loudly in the lot.
It was a real scene. Not wanting to hurt this old lady, I just pretended I was hard of hearing and smiled and waved at her. As soon as I could, I got out of there.
I could have been wrong to coddle her like that, but she seemed so fragile.
What should I have done?
Click to expand...
Cast a spell on her.

GKC
 
🤷 Seems on the superstitious side of things to me.

I probably would’ve ignored her.
 
StrawberryJam said:
Checking out in the express lane. 7 items. One item that caught the eye of a woman behind me was Magic Sizing. She looked at me and asked me if Jesus would want me to buy a product that endorsed magic.

I looked at her for a very very long time, and was unable to reply. The checker told her that the product was not at all connected to magic and looked at me with sympathy.
The lady went on to tell me that I should not purchase the item, and that she would go and get me a product that worked even better and would not offend Jesus.
I told her not to go out of her way like that, and if it would make her happy I would simply ask to have the item considered a change of heart and was willing to move on for her sake, not mine.
As I am packing the groceries in the trunk, she is right next to me. Asking me if I am born again.
I said, sorry I have a hard time hearing so I can’t talk now.
This was the worst thing I could have done. Because then she started to pray for me really loudly in the lot.
It was a real scene. Not wanting to hurt this old lady, I just pretended I was hard of hearing and smiled and waved at her. As soon as I could, I got out of there.
I could have been wrong to coddle her like that, but she seemed so fragile.
What should I have done?
Click to expand...
This is going to be a “What I would have done”, instead of a “should” have been done…😃

I would have showed her the name on my debit/credit card, and explained to her that since her name was not on it, any purchases made with it were not her concern.

If she asked me if I was born again, I would have said “No, why don’t you come by my house and talk to me, let me write down my address for you”, then got in my car and drove off.

The whole parking lot prayer thing would have worked both ways. I would’ve had my Rosary out in a flash, and started praying her away from my car and back to hers.

But hey, that’s me.
 
An interesting post SJ,

I’m guessing she spoke to you out of sincertiy, she was honestly trying to help you. It’s too funny because she got it all wrong. :rotfl:

How would you have felt hearing her tell the guy in front of you,
Playboy Mag: “Jesus would want you to find other reading material”

When is it right and good for us to express our Faith, and our concern to other people?

Should the Marriot only offer wholesome PPV?
 
Too bad you didn’t have some “stitch witchery” in your basket too. LOL
 
I would have ignored her too. My hubby is a christian and he could have been the one doing that. When he was younger he was in peoples faces with religion. He considers we are suppose to be zealous. She sounds harmless, though and may be will just cause you to consider things. 🙂 I’m not much on magic ither but a better course would be to call the company and complain which I have done about products and got results. I bought the stuff and then went back to starching.
Barb
 
I was asking here because I was brought up to respect elders. Right or wrong, just nod in agreement and move on. Never disrespect an elderly person.
We don’t know what their state of mind is.
I didn’t want to try to converse with her because I am not sure how to do such a thing without causing harm. I feel I did what I could, with the least amount of harm to her.
I agree with Todd, I believe she was sincere. Therefore, I could not have anything productive to offer than what I did in the heat of the moment. I only feel bad now, because I can’t pray, and can’t tell anyone I feel badly for not trying to dialouge with her. To ask her if her view has any basis at all. I guess I can’t help it. Especially with sincere people. I want to know more about why they are so convicted.
 
StrawberryJam said:
Checking out in the express lane. 7 items. One item that caught the eye of a woman behind me was Magic Sizing. She looked at me and asked me if Jesus would want me to buy a product that endorsed magic.

I looked at her for a very very long time, and was unable to reply. The checker told her that the product was not at all connected to magic and looked at me with sympathy.
The lady went on to tell me that I should not purchase the item, and that she would go and get me a product that worked even better and would not offend Jesus.
I told her not to go out of her way like that, and if it would make her happy I would simply ask to have the item considered a change of heart and was willing to move on for her sake, not mine.
As I am packing the groceries in the trunk, she is right next to me. Asking me if I am born again.
I said, sorry I have a hard time hearing so I can’t talk now.
This was the worst thing I could have done. Because then she started to pray for me really loudly in the lot.
It was a real scene. Not wanting to hurt this old lady, I just pretended I was hard of hearing and smiled and waved at her. As soon as I could, I got out of there.
I could have been wrong to coddle her like that, but she seemed so fragile.
What should I have done?
Click to expand...
You don’t claim to be a Christian so why are you so concerned by the woman’s question regarding the magic sizing (I have no idea what that is BTW)?

God bless you
 
Indyann said:
Too bad you didn’t have some “stitch witchery” in your basket too. LOL
Click to expand...
Um, you must be practicing magic to know I have bought that since I can not sew.
LOL!

😉

Yours truly,

Witchy one
 
Roman_Catholic said:
You don’t claim to be a Christian so why are you so concerned by the woman’s question regarding the magic sizing (I have no idea what that is BTW)?

God bless you
Click to expand...
She did not know what I believed in or not, yet offered her advice in a checkout line.
Magic Sizing is a type of starch for when you ever decide to iron clothes. I don’t do it unless I really have to by the way. Now, I have to do the dry cleaner thing. I don’t like to support dry cleaners unless I have to, because I care about our enviornment.
 
StrawberryJam said:
She did not know what I believed in or not, yet offered her advice in a checkout line.
Click to expand...
When I was agnostic she would have gotten one of these from me 🤷. After informing me exactly what magic sizing is she still most likely would have gotten a 🤷 from me today though I am not sure how it would have gotten into my cart.
Magic Sizing is a type of starch for when you ever decide to iron clothes.
Click to expand...
Oh, I don’t think Christ would have a problem with your desire for wrinkle free clothes.

God bless you
 
StrawberryJam said:
I was asking here because I was brought up to respect elders. Right or wrong, just nod in agreement and move on. Never disrespect an elderly person.
We don’t know what their state of mind is.
I didn’t want to try to converse with her because I am not sure how to do such a thing without causing harm. I feel I did what I could, with the least amount of harm to her.
I agree with Todd, I believe she was sincere. Therefore, I could not have anything productive to offer than what I did in the heat of the moment. I only feel bad now, because I can’t pray, and can’t tell anyone I feel badly for not trying to dialouge with her. To ask her if her view has any basis at all. I guess I can’t help it. Especially with sincere people. I want to know more about why they are so convicted.
Click to expand...
I agree about the respect part, she may have been pentecostal in religion. She may have been very lonely too. Or someone just looking to have a count on how many people she talked to today. You don’t need to be afraid to pray with anyone. Ministering to someone can just be like showing charity. You have more to offer than you think. think what would Jesus have done if he met her on the road. sorry I can not recall a parable for the moment. It is people just like that that Jesus met. Think of it in a different way. Rethink what her question meant. for example her questions could have been.
what do you think magic on this can means?
or do you believe in magic?
Do you have a relative that is into magic?
You know people are just disclosing a little about themselves when asking questions?
Barb
 
StrawberryJam said:
Um, you must be practicing magic to know I have bought that since I can not sew.
LOL!

😉

Yours truly,

Witchy one
Click to expand...
hmmmmm No magic, just vertically challenged. Couldn’t do without my stitch witchery. I just wish there was some way to be sure the pants were shortened the same on both legs before I witch it. I don’t sew either and I have no patience for measuring and all that kind of stuff.
 
StrawberryJam said:
Checking out in the express lane. 7 items. One item that caught the eye of a woman behind me was Magic Sizing. She looked at me and asked me if Jesus would want me to buy a product that endorsed magic.
Click to expand...
I would have said, “Jesus doesn’t want me walking around in wrinkled clothes. He also thinks I shouldn’t spend all day ironing. So He invented fabric finish. I don’t know who named it ‘Magic Sizing’ but I feel sure that He doesn’t mind me using it.”
As I am packing the groceries in the trunk, she is right next to me. Asking me if I am born again.
Click to expand...
I would have just said, “I’m sorry, my mother brought me up to not discuss religion, politics, or sex with people I don’t know - it’s not considered polite.”
 
StrawberryJam said:
I was asking here because I was brought up to respect elders. Right or wrong, just nod in agreement and move on. Never disrespect an elderly person.
We don’t know what their state of mind is.
Click to expand...
I think there are times when it is important to challenge what an elder is saying, but even then, showing respect is still important. Its just basic charity.

However, the situation you described doesn’t seem to be to be important enough to question her beliefs or attitudes. Chances are you, as a stranger, won’t be able to convince her in a minute or two. And I know I probably wouldn’t want to take the time to sit down with her, share a cup of coffee, and talk things over.

I think you went the extra mile by not buying the starch, for her peace of mind. You could always get some later, but it was an inconvenience you were willing to take for a complete stranger who probably needed some kindness in her life. You done good, SJ. 👍
 
I think I take a somewhat different approach than the other posters, SJ. The woman in question resists magic in all its forms – which is itself quite Biblical. Now, we might conclude she’s taken it to comical extremes, but frankly, she’s sticking up for what’s right in a world in which few people have the guts to do that. I agree with the commenter who mentioned the Playboy example - I’m glad there are gutsy old women out there to act like the angel on your shoulder in the supermarket.

All of that said, her concern wasn’t warranted - but you know that. Obviously, something with “Magic” in the title isn’t the same as actual magic, any more than American Idol is actual idolatry. But I think passing on the good, for *her *spiritual edification, is the right thing to do – I think 1 Corinthians 8:13 makes the approach we’re to take with the hyper-sensitive spiritually pretty clear. We shouldn’t trouble their souls unnecessarily. That’s the easy half.

The other half (in terms of knowing how to response when she asked if you were born again, etc.), is a lot trickier. What I might have done, in your shoes, is just a brief honest answer, followed by a request for prayer: so you might have said something like, “I’m still searching right now, can you remember me in your prayers?” I figure, it gives her something to do, I’m sure God’s used to listening to her prayers (cf. Luke 18:5 for a similar-sounding woman), so she’s a great person to have praying for you, etc. So everybody wins. Certainly, though, getting publicly grilled on religious questions has some massive awkward potential. You know, you might say a prayer for her as well – I know you’re still a bit agnostic, but it certainly couldn’t hurt.
 
StrawberryJam said:
What should I have done?
Click to expand...
Wow, you and all the other posters are SO much kinder and more patient than I. I’ve never even seen Magic Sizing (because I don’t iron, EVER 😉 ), but if it comes in a big box or heavy container, I would have decked her with it. It’s kinda like my own personal Zero Tolerance policy.

But than again, if she had followed me out to my car, she probably would have had a seizure or pass out from all the tree-hugging granola-munching old hippie bumper stickers that cover the entire back hatch. That would be sufficient. 😃

Miz
 
I realize it would be rude, but I would have told her to mind her own business. She undoubtedly was sincere about what she believed and was telling you, but rude is rude–it’s not her money, not her concern what you buy. And anyone who thinks that “Magic Sizing” is somehow related to actual magic might not be dealing with a full deck.
 
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