For Kathe Beadle, a love of gardening began in childhood, following her father as he worked the soil and learning from him along the way.

As he prepared the ground, planted, watered, and tended the growing plants, Kathe watched and learned. She especially remembers the day her father entrusted her with a row of her own.

“I don't remember what I planted, but I do recall how important it was to me that my dad entrusted me to plant and tend those seedlings.”

That small responsibility sparked a lifelong passion that has become much more than a favorite pastime. Over the years, it has given Kathe opportunities to share her faith, nurture relationships, and encourage others.

A Garden of the Heart

Recently, Kathe has enjoyed welcoming young children into her garden, watching them run, play, and discover the wonders of God's creation.

These moments have also opened the door to conversations about faith.

Kathe tells the children that God plants a garden in each of our hearts, too. He plants seeds of kindness, love, and joy, and asks us to nurture them with care and tenderness so they will bear fruit in our lives.

It's a meaningful lesson that connects something Kathe learned from her father with what she now shares with another generation.

Encouragement Beyond the Backyard

Not everyone can visit Kathe's garden, but she has found another way to share what she calls “the garden of my heart.”

She writes handwritten notes and cards.

In a world filled with emails and text messages, Kathe appreciates the simple pleasure of receiving meaningful mail. She enjoys sending notes to let friends know she's thinking of them, offering encouragement during times of struggle or grief, or simply expressing her love and appreciation.

“These are little treasures that can brighten a day and last longer than a bouquet of flowers.”

She often includes a Scripture verse or prayer, hoping her words will offer hope, encouragement, and joy long after the note has been read.

For Kathe, tending plants and writing notes are two expressions of the same desire: to care for what God has entrusted to her and share it generously with others.

Kathe finds particular meaning in Proverbs 25:11:

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

Her story reminds us that creativity can find expression in ordinary moments—in caring for something as it grows, sharing a lesson with a child, or choosing just the right words to encourage a friend.