Trust. Surrender. Obey.

Faith Lessons from My Dogs

A devotional journey with dogs, faith and everyday grace.

Why This Book?

This isn’t just a devotional. It’s a collection of 47 stories that walk with you—through healing, transition, or simply the quiet search for connection.

Inspired by life with rescue dogs, Trust. Surrender. Obey. was born from moments of failure, faith, and the soft whispers of grace that followed.

It’s for the faithful and the flawed, the certain and the questioning. It’s for those learning to let go, listen, and love deeper—because of, not in spite of, what life has held.

What You'll Find Inside

47 short, story-driven devotionals

Each featuring real moments from life with rescue dogs - Honest, heartfelt prayers paired with each story - Reflections that meet you where you are and invite you to listen for God’s whispers Whether you read it one page at a time or in one sitting, each story offers a simple nudge toward presence, perspective, and peace.

INTRODUCING...

The Girls

MEET THE GIRLS: LANEY & MARIE.

Laney and Marie are more than rescue dogs—they’re real-life devotionals. Marie is actually Laney’s birth mom, though she lived a lot of life before they were reunited. Laney is all alert ears and full-body hugs. She’s fiercely loyal and takes her role as protector seriously—perimeter checks included. Marie, on the other hand, is slow to trust but deeply affectionate once she does. She didn’t get to raise her litters, but found her way to Dawn and Laney and, in doing so, discovered a different kind of motherhood and healing. Their stories mirror the journey of the book: from fear to trust, from survival to surrender, from separation to belonging.

Laney

(The Baby) Laney gives the best hugs—and the best security detail. Sweet, spunky, and full of affection, Laney came into my life first—bright-eyed and ready to love. She’s the baby of the family, but also the self-appointed protector. With her tall radar ears and regular perimeter checks, she keeps a close eye (and bark) on anything that dares enter her watch zone. Her love is fierce, joyful, and always on guard.

Marie

(The Mama with a Story) Marie didn’t get to raise her litters—but she’s finally getting to rest. Marie is slow to trust, probably for good reason. She lived a lot of life before she came to us—eluding capture until what we believe was her second litter. Her pups, including Laney, were rescued and placed into foster care, all successfully adopted. Marie took longer. She’s still a little rough around the edges and always alert to bikes, runners, or anything that feels like a threat to her girls. But when she trusts you—when she lets you in—you’ll feel it. Her loyalty is quiet, constant, and unmatched. And her barks? Let’s just say if Marie is barking, it’s worth paying attention to.

Unlikely Sisters

They look like twins—but their stories couldn’t be more different. Laney came to me first. Young, scared, and still figuring out the world. Marie came months later, older and more guarded, after a life that left her unsure of safety or belonging. I knew they were connected—Marie is Laney’s birth mom—and I hoped fostering her might offer insight into Laney’s mix: that mysterious blend of chow tongue, ridgeback ridge, pit bull mouth, and shepherd ears.

I didn’t get the answers I expected. They look so alike, it didn’t help me decode Laney’s breed. But I gained something better: a deeper understanding of love, loyalty, and resilience.

Today, they nap side by side, walk in sync (sometimes), and share a bond rooted in something deeper than circumstance. They’ve taught me that family doesn’t always look how we imagine—but it always feels like home.

Two rescues. Two stories. One redemption arc I never saw coming.

COME AS YOU ARE

You don’t need to be perfect to be loved. You don’t need to have it all together to be found. Trust. Surrender. Obey. wasn’t written from a mountaintop—it was written from the messy middle of faith, fear, failure, and forgiveness.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you're getting it “right”… If you've ever longed to feel God closer in the chaos… If you’ve ever found comfort in a tail wag, a quiet prayer, or a moment of unexpected peace… this book is for you.

These stories aren’t about dogs. They’re about what the dogs revealed. And my hope is that somewhere in their fur, my failures, and their fierce loyalty, you’ll find a whisper meant just for you.

You don’t have to go it alone. Come as you are. Let’s walk this together.

MEET THE AUTHOR.

Author. Coach. Dog mom. Devoted listener to the whispers of grace.

Dawn Ledet is a writer, speaker, and coach who helps high-achieving women build a foundation of self-trust that supports their biggest goals and deepest growth. She’s coached thousands of sessions, led leadership teams in corporate and entrepreneurial settings, and developed tools and frameworks now used by clients and coaches across the globe.

But this book is personal.

It’s not about strategy or performance—it’s about the quiet work of healing, the unlikely companions God sends, and the moments that draw us closer to who we were always meant to be.

Through dozens of fosters and two forever dogs—Laney and Marie—Dawn discovered a grace that had always been easier to extend to others than herself.

This book is a small offering of that grace, in hopes it reaches someone who needs it.

She lives in New Orleans, just a mile from the French Quarter, with her girls in a home full of the scars and scratches of life—and wouldn’t have it any other way.

What People Are Saying

"This book is full of gentle reminders to find God’s love and grace all around us. It made me laugh, it brought me to tears and with each story it left me thinking about how God works in the most unassuming ways to bring us closer to Him. Thank you for sharing your stories and your girls with us!"

Heather Hargrave

"WOW! You don't need to be a dog owner to be drawn into Dawn's powerful storytelling. She has a gift with words that make you feel like you are right there with her and then, in one sentence, it becomes about God and breaks down the walls around your heart! Her succinct stories often leads to tears, talking with God and pondering the life-changing lesson she is conveying. Thank you, Dawn, for being authentic, vulnerable and willing to share your journey with us so each of our hearts can become more beautiful."

Brenda Pryor

"A beautiful heartwarming and insightful book. Marie and Laney are very lucky to have found a “mom” like Dawn. What a beautiful and loving family they have formed. The lessons they taught Dawn and the trust they learned from Dawn are a profound example of true devotion and love. This book gives hope to anyone (human or animal) who feels alone or unworthy of love. It is proof that patience, faith and love can work miracles. A must read."

Domino

"God and dogs! He understands us and pursues us while dogs are our earthly, trusted companions who share our hearts. Dawn eloquently shares how dogs with all their intuition can lead us right where God wants us."