The Family of Athena Strand Mourns
After the child was kidnapped by a FedEx driver, Athena Strand’s mother, Maitlyn Gandy, rushed from her home in Oklahoma to Paradise, Texas.
On Friday, the mother learned the worst. She took to Facebook, posting “I do not want the bastard that took my baby from me and brutally murdered her to go to any city, town, county, state, or country without every single person knowing her face.”
The mourning mother also said, “She no longer has a voice, but I will be the best voice I can as a mother for her and I will not stop.”
“I want everyone to know Athena. She was an amazing little girl who loved dancing, singing and all animals…” She later said in a statement made alongside her attorney. “I know that Athena’s death will not be in vain. I will spend the rest of my life fighting for her.”
In her statement, Gandy also said, “I was robbed of watching her grow up by a man that everyone was supposed to be able to trust to do one simple task: deliver Christmas packages and leave.”
Athena Strand’s grandfather, Mark Strand, had a similar, yet also unique response. He posted to Facebook three days after she had been kidnapped by a FedEx driver.
In his post, he wrote about an internal struggle, but ultimately, he wrote about choosing to forgive Horner.
Drawing on his faith in Jesus, the loving grandpa said, “That gentle voice is the Holy Spirit of God speaking to me right now. He’s reminding me that my savior Jesus, willingly laid Himself on a cross and died in my place to reconcile me to God the Father, but also that He did that for All of Us, even this man that my flesh so Hates at this very moment.”
Here is his post from Facebook:
This morning grandfather explained he didn’t want the murder of his granddaughter to metaphorically end his life of peace, too.
“If I allow this hate to consume me, that voice will fade and eventually be silenced,” He said. “Then that ugly spirit of hate will have succeeded and that’s why this gentle voice persists to tell me I need to forgive this man. It’s for my protection and my peace.”
And his reaction has moved many. TikTok user, Chibimallo, posted a video in tears, reading the grandfather’s Facebook post. (Chibimallo mistakenly refers to Mark as the father, not the grandfather.)
@chibimallo I’ve never been so moved by a post in my life. #ripathenastrand #athenastrand #holyspirit #jesus ♬ original sound – Chibimallo
In response to Chibimallo, one person wrote “Forgiveness isn’t for others. It’s for us.”
And one of Mark’s family wrote, “This is my family & I am so incredibly proud of Mark. He is an incredible grandfather & he is leading this family well in grace & mercy.”
While Athena Strand’s death is an incomprehensible tragedy, it seems evil will not outvoice love in this family.
