Eww — Mushy tomatoes, rusty lettuce, and decomposed squash commonly take up residency in the bottom of our refrigerator crisper drawers.

We cringe and moan about letting them go to waste and promise ourselves not to allow that to happen the next time around.

The fact is that in the U.S. about 40 percent of the food that is produced, transported, and processed ends up in our landfills. Wasted food turns into a squandered void in our wallets and is a loss of the natural resources that were consumed to produce and transport it.

When we have an abundance, there is a tendency to take things for granted. Throwing out leftovers, brown bananas, half eaten sandwiches, and stale chip bags can be considered normal casualties of supply and demand in the management of any household.

For families struggling with poverty, the importance of making food last, using every bit of produce purchased, and stretching a food budget becomes a much more critical issue.

I have been pondering how a person can chose to find satisfaction although forced to live frugally. How do we find joy and maintain a positive attitude even when we have very little?

I am so appreciative of a visitor to the food pantry who does not scoff but is thrilled when offered a head of cauliflower that is beginning to wilt and excited to receive some pears that are blemished by a few minor brown spots.

A context to this query about finding happiness in scarcity and lack of material wealth can be observed in the comments Jesus made about the poor in Luke 6: 20-21, 24-25: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.”

Jesus identified with the poorest of the poor and reached out to the marginalized, the outcast and broken. He knew that a poor individual would more likely have a humble heart.

In order to connect with Jesus, it helps not to be full of pride and ego. If we want to find true happiness and receive restoration, then we must first become humble before God.

Struggling financially draws out ingenuity in order to survive. If I am living on the low-income spectrum, then I must learn to do a lot with the little that I do have. I am creative and resilient and can choose to take measured care of the items in my possession. I do not take resources like food for granted. I have learned to make lemonade from lemons.

When you have too much of something, it is not unusual for you to not give it much thought. You may not consider the value of the resources and possessions that you do have.

Low-income members of our community and the food insecure are shown the value and appreciation of little things because they know what it is like to go without them. They can choose to demonstrate a joyful heart, interacting with cheerful faces because they appreciate the goodness of what they do have.

When facing adversity, a person can allow the challenge to break them or can choose to be strengthened. Through hardship, we can be made humble and open up to God’s grace.

Within the realm of poverty and scarcity of material things, our recognition of God’s presence and guidance is uplifting and transformative.

In Luke 4:18 Jesus traveled to Nazareth and spoke these words in the synagogue, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

Janet Mills is the director of Cassville Pantry, located at 800 W. 10th St. in Cassville. She may be reached at cassvillepantry@gmail.com or 417 846-7871.