Droopy Tails

Every time it rains, Lucky's tail goes down between his legs, he trembles, and races through his dog door to the drenched outside. Then he stands in the rain, at the sliding glass door looking in at us, his face dripping rain and sorrow. When we drag him inside, he sprints back out into the rain unless we lock the dog door. If we lock the dog door, he wrenches it off its guides, and then returns miserably to stand unhappily in the rain. We have no idea why he does this, nor how to help him.
Based on a Dog Whisperer show we saw, last night Asherel decided that to change his perspective on rain, she would change his body language. She got a rope and tied one end to his collar so she could hang on to him and one end to his tail. While we ate dinner, she used the rope to keep him from running out, and with the tail end of it, helped him wag his tail. For about 5 minutes, she lifted his dropping tail with the rope, and wagged it for him. He certainly did
look happier. And the funny thing is, when we took him off the rope, he didn't run back into the rain.

There are two seemingly contradictory verses in proverbs about happiness.
Proverbs 15:13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:30
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

Well, so which is it, dear Lord? Does a happy face make the heart cheerful, or does a happy heart make the face cheerful? As the experiment with Lucky showed, it is both. If you can assume the attitude of joy, perhaps joy follows.

I think we are a nation that loves to wallow in victimhood, but I don't think that is what God intends for us. I think love is a choice, and following righteousness is a choice, and maybe even happiness is a choice.
There are clearly times when it it is near impossible to put on a happy face, or pull your tail out from between your legs. Sometimes you need someone else to help do that for you. But if no one is around, sometimes looking up at radiance transfers radiance, and joy lifts drooping tails.

Psalm 34:4-6

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.