We recently connected with Melanie Redd and have shared our conversation below.

Melanie, appreciate you joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

Over the summer, my sweet Mama spent an entire month in the hospital.

Day after day, different doctors, nurses, and hospital workers would come in and assist her. They brought her food, checked her vital signs, and took amazing care of her for the duration of her stay.

We were so blessed to see the care, concern, and kindness of all of the staff of Baptist Hospital and Baptist Rehab Hospital.

For two weekends, I spent the night in the hospital with my mom. This was quite an adventure, to say the least.

It helped me to keep up with how she was doing, and to make sure she got quality care on those weekends when the staff was rather slim.

On the second of the two weekends that I stayed overnight; one particular nurse impacted us. This nurse was a traveling nurse, and it was the first time I had encountered her.

She took amazing care of my mom.

The night she cared for us; she was with us for a full 12-hour shift. She came in often and checked to see how things were going.

Truly, she went beyond the call of duty to make sure my mom’s needs were taken care of.

And, she was unusually kind and compassionate. What struck me most was the morning after she had been there all night working.

It was about 6:30 in the morning, and she was to get off at 7:00. I know she must have been exhausted because I was exhausted just sleeping in the hospital.

On this particular morning, my mother was concerned about having her hair combed.

But no one wanted to touch her scalp because she had had brain surgery. Honestly, we were all afraid to upset the stitches or cause some kind of medical issue if we brushed her hair.

When my mom mentioned the desire to have her hair brushed to the nurse, the nurse went and got her a comb.

Then, very tediously and very carefully, that nurse began to come and fix my mother’s hair. She formed some curls with their fingers, smoothed them out, and took about 20 minutes to fix my mother’s hair.

I know this was not in her job description. And I knew she had been working for 11 1/2 hours straight.

But she took moments to show a lot of grace to a little lady who wanted her hair fixed. At that moment, even sleep-deprived, I recognized what was happening.

We were experiencing a moment of “Amazing Grace” imparted from one human to another.

And I believe that sweet nurse’s name was Lauren. But I never saw her again after that night. She came in for that one shift, and then she left.

However, her treatment of my mom will affect me for the rest of my life.

Indeed, I saw a beautiful picture of someone who went the extra mile for someone else.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As an elementary student, I loved to write and create. In fact, with the help of some of the neighborhood kids, I created magazines that we sold to our parents. That’s where it all began.

In high school, I shared devotions over the intercom system each week with the entire student body of my large high school. I also spoke often to younger kids and teens. In college, I studied education, communication, and writing and continued to head in those creative directions.

After college, I taught school, mentored younger women, and taught at my church. It was at this time that I began writing materials for Lifeway Resources.

Since those early days, its been my joy to speak to thousands of people around the world, publish nine books, launch two hope-filled blogs, and launch a podcast called Women Living Courageously (in tandem with Love Worth Finding Ministries.)

It’s also been quite an adventure to connect with people around the globe using social media and Zoom.

I’m most excited, honestly, for the chance to share hope with other people.

When someone shares with me that they have been inspired or encouraged, then I am also inspired and encouraged.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Yes! When my full-time job with a local college was phased out, I was already doing a little writing, speaking, and blogging on the side.

My husband suggested I pursue this full-time.

So, I began to talk to other entrepreneurs, join lots of Facebook groups, and launch out on social media. For the most part, it was all about putting myself out there and being brave.

Some friends and family members were critical, but I began to find those who would applaud my efforts and spur me on to do better and greater things.

After eight years of pursuing my side hustle, I can tell you that it is not a side hustle any longer. It is wonderful full-time pursuit – incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.

Some of the highlights include:

– Meeting amazing people
– Reaching people around the world
– Seeing many books published
– Getting to speak to groups – large and small
– Being able to enjoy a full-time salary working my side hustle
– Enjoying the flexible schedule and hours.

I highly recommend pursuing those side hustles! I love the freedom and the fun!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was how to not worry about what others thought or said.

In the beginning, a couple of people very close to me were incredibly critical of my side hustle. However, I knew that God was calling me to go for it with my ideas.

I had to move ahead in spite of the naysayers. I had to do my work and pursue my business and ministry anyway.

Truly, I learned that people will not always understand, support us, or cheer us on.

That is okay!

The words that have become my battle cry from the beginning come from Psalm 118:6. It says, The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Do what you are called to do – no matter what anyone else says or does! (Or doesn’t say or do!)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melanieredd.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniemredd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieMRedd/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-redd-ab1a9814/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelanieRedd
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTVnKcDFW6owoUsuaOwC0yQ
• Other: My Podcast on iTunes – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-living-courageously/id1600978021

Image Credits
Melanie Redd Calli Smith