The grandfather of a 7-year-old Texas girl who was kidnapped and murdered by a contracted delivery driver last week writes eloquently on Facebook of his struggle between “hate” and “love” — and his determination that hate will not win.

As CrimeOnline has reported, Athena Strand disappeared from her home on Wednesday afternoon after an argument with her stepmother. A two-day search ended when investigators 31-year-old Tanner Horner, who led them to her body.

Mark Strand, the little girl’s grandfather, wrote about his anger at Horner and also the “soft gentle voice in the back of my head telling me I need to forgive him.”

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[Featured image: Athena Strand/Facebook]