Eventually, the time came for the family to pack up and return home. It was sad to see them go but all good things come to an end and they had to leave. Packing took a little while as they seemed to have accumulated even more to go home with, including lots of Easter eggs. At last, they were on their way, and Pete and I retired to our armchairs (the grandparents amongst us will appreciate the moment!)

Later, I wandered around the house gathering up the things that had been left behind - the dummy, toys, plastic rain-cover for the pram, etc.. These I could parcel up and send back to them. What I couldn't send back was the little handprints I found on the patio windows. (I did a very silly thing before our visitors arrived - I cleaned the windows!)

I think we've all done that from time to time - visited friends and then come home leaving something behind, leaving our mark. Jesus did this. He came to earth for a set time and then, when the time was right, He returned to His Father in Heaven. But He left His mark!

When our children go home we are sad but we know that, in order to come again, they have to go to their own homes. In John 14, Jesus tells His disciples He would return to His Father. Obviously, they were very upset and frightened but He says that, if they loved Him, they would obey His commandments. He knew that, like us, they would struggle but He promised that they would not be on their own; He would be sending the Holy Spirit, the Counsellor. Unless He returned home, however, God's Spirit could not come. This Holy Spirit would be with them forever to guide them, to comfort them and to help them come into that closer relationship with God. We can come closer to God, through His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we know, He kept His promise and the Holy Spirit came. We may not be able to see Him but there will be evidence of His presence. It's like the wind; we can't see it but we can feel it and we can see the evidence. The Holy Spirit plants in us the seeds of His fruits - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - and, as we respond to Him, those seeds will grow.

The Holy Spirit has come to direct our lives. I don't fully understand it but I am more and more conscious of this inner voice - guiding, comforting, correcting (not always a good feeling!) and giving me a special peace.

The wonderful thing is that, while I might be able to get rid of the children's handprints from the glass, we will never be able to get rid of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that God's Holy Spirit would be with us forever, unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable.