Posted on 01/07/2023 7:30:38 AM PST by Hostage
A few months old, a bit long, but entirely worth it:
Retired Teacher Pays for Stranger’s Groceries Before Making a Shocking Discovery About His True Identity
It's no secret that the world can turn around even with the smallest gestures. It only takes one moment to change your life and the lives of everyone around you. And the world's desperately in need of kindness and positivity.
One particular woman chose to do a small act of kindness, having no idea who the recipient was of her good deed.
What she thought was a simple act of kindness turned out to be one of the most memorable moments of her life and her story quickly went viral.
A Retired Teacher
Ruth Reed is a retired teacher from Medford, New Jersey. She’s just a regular everyday person who lives a quiet and humble life with her husband.
The two spend a lot of time together and they decided to regularly perform small acts of kindness throughout the day.
A particularly small pact they pledged is to exhibit generosity as much as possible and wherever possible. And while there were many acts throughout the years, Reed couldn't have imagined that one of them would make her famous.
Morning Shopping Routine
Ruth Reed's day started out like most other days in her life. The New Jersey native woke up and headed to her local Wawa convenience store.
Wawa is very famous shopping chain in the east coast it can be found in most major cities on this side of the country.
Reed wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary to happen when she walked into the convenience store and she had no idea that she was about to experience something amazing.
A Familiar Face
Local stores are somewhat of a get-together place and it's not unlikely to run into someone you know while shopping at them. If you live nearby and go to the same grocery stores on a regular basis, it's not uncommon to see some familiar faces while doing your weekly shop.
But this fateful morning, Ruth Reed wasn't just going to see someone that she knew, she was about to run into a face the whole world was familiar with.
She couldn't have known that her simple act of kindness would reach the entire globe.
A Stranger in Need
Reed found all that she needed and she was ready to finish her routine morning shopping. She stepped to the checkout counter and was ready to pay when she noticed something happening up front.
It looked like a man paying for his groceries was having trouble with the payment process.
This can be very stressful, especially if there's a big line behind you waiting to finish their shopping.
Luckily for him, Ruth Reed was standing in the same line and she was ready to help.
Helping Out
When Reed saw the customer up front struggling to make the payment for his groceries, she decided to step up and help the stranger.
In normal situations, when you bring groceries to the counter and don’t have the means to pay, you return some or all the groceries and you only buy what you can pay for.
But Ruth Reed was not about to allow this customer to go home empty-handed.
She went to the front of the line and she decided to pay for his groceries.
But she still had no idea about the true identity of the lucky shopper.
The Generosity Pledge
What's great about Ruth Reed is that this wasn't some random or impulsive act of kindness—it was a decision she made with her husband a long time ago. They pledged to always help people in need at the grocery store.
While they help everyone, they especially want to help soldiers and veterans as a sign of appreciation for their service.
"We decided when we saw military people we would treat them at Wawa or Dunkin Donuts or whatever," said Reed in an interview with CBS Philly.
It goes without saying that the Reeds were committed to this life of generosity and charity.
No Second Thoughts
After witnessing the man’s struggle to process the payment, Reed did not waste any time. She jumped to the front of the line and she offered to pay for the groceries.
"It looked like he was using a card, and it didn't go through,” Reed explained. “And then he asked a young lady for five dollars, and I thought, ‘this is it.’ So I said, 'No, I'll get it.’”
It was just like any other day, and she paid no attention to the identity of the customer. An opportunity to help someone presented itself, and she jumped right in.
A Celebrity Look-Alike
After this incredible gesture, the customer at the counter seemed eternally grateful and he kept thanking Reed. The two continued to chat and Reed noticed something awfully familiar about his face. He eventually told her his name was Keith.
Funnily enough, he had the same name and he looked exactly like the country singer Keith Urban. But what are the chances of running into a celebrity like this? It had to be a random look-alike customer.
Or was it really the country music legend himself?
An Uncanny Resemblance
The more Reed talked to the stranger, the more he she thought that he looked like the country singer. But Reed just couldn’t believe her eyes, and at one point, she even told him he looked exactly like Keith Urban.
The man laughed and replied that he was Keith Urban! Reed was stumped and she couldn't believe that she was standing next to the country star.
Surely a celebrity with the status of Keith Urban would shop at a more high-profile store. Plus, he couldn't possible have needed someone to pay for his groceries.
Uncovering the True Identity
Reed’s skepticism grew, and even though the man looked exactly like him, she refused to believe that she’d met up with a celebrity at her local store.
She kept talking to the man and asking him questions in the hopes of revealing his true identity. She even asked him where his wife Nicole Kidman was.
Surely the celebrity power couple would do their shopping together at some high-profile spot.
Reed was still unsure if the customer was Keith Urban and she was more determined than ever to find out.
It's Keith Urban!
Excited by the possibility of chatting with a world-famous celebrity, Reed became completely oblivious to her surroundings. But as she continued to ask questions, she noticed something in the background that made everything clear. She saw bodyguards that surrounded this mysterious stranger.
It suddenly became evident that the man was telling the truth. He was indeed country legend Keith Urban! Wow, what were the chances?
Reed explained her reaction in an interview with NBC Philly, “I just fell apart. And he was so gracious.”
Embarrassed by the Situation
What are the chances of going shopping at a local grocery store and bumping into a high-profile celebrity like Keith Urban and then paying for his groceries?
Now that Reed confirmed his identity, she was totally embarrassed by the whole situation. She openly doubted him and asked him all sorts of questions to uncover the truth. But the popular country singer wasn’t fazed or offended by this at all.
In fact, he probably found it amusing because it's hard to believe that you’d run into a mega-celebrity in a local store.
Country Music Legend
When Reed finally realized that she was in the presence of Keith Urban, she was shocked. The man was who he said he was and he happened to be one of the most popular country music stars in the world.
Throughout his successful career, Keith Urban's had a ton of chart-topping singles and albums.
The country music singer spends a lot of his time in New Zealand and Australia, but he's still managed to become a huge star in the United States.
A Vast Fortune
Besides the fame, Urban managed to amass a vast fortune thanks to his numerous hits and achievements in the country music industry.
On top of this, he's married to Nicole Kidman, an equally successful and wealthy celebrity actress.
There's no doubt that the Urban-Kidman household is financially secure. So why did Urban need help from a complete stranger at the convenience store?
Surely, they are rich enough to buy the Wawa store chain, let alone pay for the groceries.
Sometimes it Isn’t Enough
Life can be funny sometimes. It turns out that no matter how much money you have in the bank or how big your credit card limit is, sometimes it just isn’t enough. You never know when you'll have an unlucky day of not being able to pay for your groceries.
As it turns out on that fateful day, Urban only had $10 in his wallet. Since he brought groceries that cost more, he took out his credit card to pay for the rest. Unfortunately, the system was down, and his payment wasn’t able to go through.
Luckily for him, Ruth Reed was there to help out.
Down-to-Earth Person
It's interesting that Urban remained down-to-earth and humble, despite his mega-stardom and popularity. Most celebrities of his status have people that do the shopping for them. But Keith Urban wanted to show everyone that he's still just a normal guy that can end up in awkward situations like the rest of us.
Not only was he shopping at a local grocery store, but he also got caught unprepared and he wasn’t able to pay for his groceries due to a system crash. No amount of wealth and fame could help him with this. But a certain lady named Ruth Reed could.
Not only was he shopping at a local grocery store, but he also got caught unprepared and he wasn’t able to pay for his groceries due to a system crash. No amount of wealth and fame could help him with this. But a certain lady named Ruth Reed could.
An Extraordinary Lady
While Keith Urban showed everyone that he’s just a regular guy, Ruth Reed, on the other hand, showed everyone that she’s anything but ordinary.
Most of us like to believe we would help out someone in need, but the reality is, not everyone is ready to walk the walk. However, Ruth Reed was and she jumped in on the situation faster than anyone else could. She wasn’t in it for the fame or special prizes, it was just the way she lived her life.
Urban was so impressed by this little lady, who at first glance didn’t even recognize him, that he wanted to do something for her in return.
How did he thank Reed for her kind act?
Personal Satisfaction
After the whole situation passed, Urban was keen on repaying her kindness, but Reed wanted none of it.
She wasn’t doing this because he was Keith Urban, the world-famous country singer. Rather, she did it because it made her feel good and this was how she chose to live her life—she enjoyed helping other people and brightening someone else's day.
She wasn’t aiming for a special reward or recognition and she would’ve done it for anyone. This impressed Urban even more.
Repaying Kindness
But there was one thing that Reed wanted and it wasn't a special reward.
Reed asked the country singer for a quick photo with her new celebrity friend. For her, this was the ultimate prize.
Seeing how she initially struggled to believe it was actually him, she wanted proof that she met the real-life Keith Urban.
Urban gladly agreed to pose for a photo with Reed and the two of them snapped a photo together outside the convenience store.
We can't even begin to imagine how shocked Reed’s friends and family must've been when they saw the photo of her with the country music star!
“Nicest Lady in Medford”
Such an amazing experience had to be shared with her loved ones. After she sent the photo to her friends and family, Reed decided to post it on her social media accounts as well. And just when she thought her day couldn’t get any better or more exciting, she went viral!
Her post was shared thousands of times and she received incredible comments from people in her community. Some of them commented on how Keith Urban was the lucky one, as he met “one of the nicest ladies in Medford.”
Going Worldwide
Reed’s popularity didn’t stop in the comment section—she caught the attention of the media and various news stations like CBS Philly.
They contacted Reed and wanted to do a full interview on the situation and that wasn’t all. The story went so viral that it even reached Urban’s hometown in Australia and New Zealand.
This amazing show of generosity was featured on the radio program The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Ruth Reed, an ordinary lady from Medford, was suddenly popular throughout the world and everyone was in awe of her generosity.
Kindness Inspires Kindness
This simple act of generosity was appreciated by many viewers and reporters. But it was not the only the story that went viral. It seems that kindness was catching on as well. The owners of the Wawa wanted to show their appreciation and honor the good deed.
So, they offered a free cup of coffee for all customers in hopes that a happy occurrence that day would continue to spread. Perhaps it will even inspire others to step up and help people in need.
Not Surprising
The news spread really fast in the small town of Medford. Naturally, everyone was very excited and touched by this story. However, not everyone was surprised. After all, Ruth Reed was a lady known for her random acts of generosity.
She tries to do something good every day, simply because she enjoys the feeling of satisfaction afterward. She never exposed herself or sought recognition. For this reason alone, her closest friends and her loving family were not surprised when the news went viral.
It was just another good deed, but this time it involved a celebrity star.
A Way of Life
One of the reasons why people weren’t completely surprised by this act is because of Reed’s previous work as a middle school teacher. She dedicated her life to help, guide, and teach new generations.
But she never kept this lifestyle hidden in the classroom. She let it out into the world and she showed kindness whenever possible. After all, teachers dedicate their lives to inspiring young children and it comes as no surprise that they’d want to show kindness in all aspects of their life.
After retirement, it became a way of satisfying the need to help other people.
Inspiring a Song
The story became such a hit that it started to inspire people to do better and make the world a nicer place. It reached beyond the people working at Wawa and living in Medford.
Besides kindness, it caused a massive outpour in creativity. It inspired Carly Tefft, an aspiring country singer and songwriter, to write a song about the event.
Tefft also happens to be a close friend of Keith Urbans and she felt so uplifted that she decided to honor the act by writing a song.
Honored by MasterCard
Ruth Reed had no problem helping others and spending her own money in the process. She never asked for anything in return.
Her kindness was repaid tenfold. As it turns out, MasterCard decided to honor Reed upon hearing the story. They approached her on Twitter and told her that they sent a year’s supply of prepaid cards that she can use at any time to help people in need.
It almost became a movement as they wrote, “Your next 52 acts of kindness are on us” using the hashtag "#StartSomethingPriceless."
We are All Humans
The story that started in the small town of Medford eventually grew bigger than anyone could've ever imagined. It's not only an important reminder that we're all humans, regardless of our status, but that kindness can be incorporated in everyday life.
It costs us little to nothing at all to make someone’s day.
Additionally, these acts can inspire other people to do good. It's a domino effect that can make the world a more positive place. Many people started these random acts of kindness after hearing Reed’s story, including one person that paid for a whole dinner for an elderly woman in a restaurant.
Being Part of Something Bigger
No one could believe what would come out of a routine grocery shopping, especially Ruth Reed. She's a humble and modest person and she got really excited about the story going viral.
For her, it wasn’t about getting the appreciation or recognition. She felt like a teacher again as she inspired others to do random acts of kindness that could make someone’s days.
Being a part of something so huge was the biggest reward she could possibly ask for, which is part of the reason she started doing acts of kindness to begin with.
Dedicated to Kindness
After everything that happened, most people wonder what’s the next step for Ruth Reed? What could ever top this achievement? But for her, it’s not about the praise or outdoing herself. It's about the opportunity to do good and feel satisfied inside.
She doesn’t need to go viral as this is something she simply enjoys doing. For her, the future looks much like it did before she met Keith Urban—she'll continue doing acts of kindness for others.
Reed’s dedication to this lifestyle is truly an inspiration in itself.
I've been blessed to directly help many in need, but of course, never unwittingly for one as famous as international star Keith Urban.
I once helped a beautiful Spanish Actress, famous in the Latin world, by doing some research on her late famous Cannes Film Festival award-winning Director father, and finding something incredible that helped her immensely. She flew from Madrid, and I from Seattle, met in Manhattan and became very close friends.
But I knew she was from a famous background, so it wasn't the same as what Ruth Reed did for Keith.
The problem with wanting to help people in need is, as Donald Trump says, "There's too many of them", this from him who has helped hundreds and hundreds, from anonymously paying off a mortgage, to freeing a veteran from a Mexican jail, Donald said his one fault is his "heart is too big", and "I can't help them all"; but this story about Ruth Reed should remind us all of the goodness of the American People, even those from humble backgrounds.
Never heard of him....
Great story.
I keep thinking about the dystopia of a possible future “social credit” score.
Imagine a few years from now that Keith had gotten on the bad side of the social engineers who have given him a negative social credit score—and that is why his credit card did not work.
This good samaritan lady has now become a criminal aiding and abetting an enemy of the state—and now her credit score is about to become zero as well.
“Medford”
Oregon??
And don’t think it couldn’t happen . . . because the people assigning these scores are among the lowest dredges of humanity even if they have powerful high sounding titles, are adored by the media (but I repeat myself) and wear fancy clothes.
Of all the encounters I had all of them were very pleasant and the people were always polite. Never ran into one of those "jerk" types.
The writer managed to really stretch this tiny tale, it went on and on and on repetitively.
From the second paragraph:
“Ruth Reed is a retired teacher from Medford, New Jersey.”
Big Time Scam in the Chicago area - A women usually with a Kid has a cart full of groceries - her Credit Card never works, the kid looks sad - some older person thinks they are helping out a family in need.
It is a great con - one women-kid team has already been spotted at six area Jewel stores.
This story is true. But it’s from 2018.
“Golden Road” was his break through album, and he’s a great guitarist. Think Brad Paisley but maybe better.
Wow, never use one word when 1,000 will do.
There was an elderly woman who somehow squared in Trumps tower. Had li rd there quite awhile apparently. When trump found out, he met with her and gave her a room and food for life
He also was having g lunch by a beach one day, saw a young woman struggling in the water, and he ran out into the surf and saved her. Turns out she had mental problems, and her father lost track of her for a bit. And she wandered into ocean. The father was the one to tell the story and was deeply affected by Trumps kindness
Another time there was flooding down south somewhere and Trump spent his own money to deliver clean water to the folks by trucking in tractor trailers of bottled water
That is who Trump is- no fanfare when he helps others, just honest to goodness kindness
Biden on the other hand- there is just no comparison- he falls far short compared to the dececency of the Trumps
It’s a delightful story, but CRIKEY, it read every essay I had to write in junior high which had a minimum word requirement.
Hi Hostage, I hope you don’t mind but I found a shorter version of this sweet story. “Articles” written in that overly drawn out, repetitive fashion makes my ears itch :)
https://patch.com/new-jersey/cinnaminson/mastercard-pays-it-forward-woman-who-paid-keith-urbans-tab
Somehow I missed that. Thx
Yeah, must be getting paid by the word. If only I knew who Keith Urban (whoever he is) was married to. Oh yeah, the author tells us five times.
“”The New Jersey native woke up and headed to her local Wawa convenience store.””
I don’t even know what a Wawa is - have never seen one but WHO shops at a convenience store every morning? I wouldn’t know Keith Urban if he knocked on my door.
I was in line at our large supermarket a week ago and a gentleman at the checkout was having trouble locating his money - whether cash, credit card, checkbook or what, no one had any idea. We all watched as he went through every pocket in his shirt and in his pants and came up empty. He was looking for at least 10 minutes and even the clerk was raising her eyebrows and rolling her eyes at those of us in line.
I thought I could offer to pay his bill but I couldn’t see the amount of groceries he had as they were already bagged and no idea what his bill was.
The clerk called a manager over, whispered to her and then hit the checkout machine, tore off the receipt and told the gentlemen he was set to go. I was next in line and I couldn’t resist asking if the store WROTE OFF HIS BILL and she said, “yes”. He’d been looking for a GIFT CARD for that store...She then told me his bill was $187.00 - GULP! I felt generous but not that generous.
After I got checked out and out to my car, he was getting in a truck parked next to my car. There were at least 3 other people in that truck and no one was helping him load groceries into the truck.
I came away thinking it was good to know that the store I go to every week didn’t give him any trouble. Not naming the store for obvious reasons.
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