Mother is the word generally used in The Summer Boy, but the matter of gender at this point is complex. The Higher Power created the world and not until the nth day did man and woman come about.
Throughout the story 'Mother' appears as the Higher Power:
On page 48 we meet Callie, a very motherly type; she feeds everyone; she has a daughter, Elizabeth, who serves her faithfully (in biblical terms no less than Jesus Christ). Elizabeth appears frequently with help in case of need:
"Mama told me to [something] provide every need. At the council she appears out of a tree and runs the proceeding.
Turn now to page 207: Lizzie says something about 'the Mother' eliciting a reply from Drum
"The Mother?" there follows:
"God, Spirit, Maker, Mover, whatever word you use, it names the one who is all."
"God is a woman?"
Lizzie smiled at his query, "Sometime She is; sometimes He isn't."
That's about as good an answer as can be given to the God question.
On page 218 we see a prayer that Drum raised on his own:
"Holy Father and Mother and Lover and Friend. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you."
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