Article November 15, 1993 Issue

A constant river

The qualities of true womanhood are to be expressed by all of us—for the betterment of society.

William A. Buell

Biblical writers have used rivers to symbolize a type of spiritual care coming directly from God. The Psalmist sang, "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High" (Ps. 46:4).

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives the spiritual sense of the river Gihon: "The rights of woman acknowledged morally, civilly, and socially" (p. 587).

When we think of the many sad ways women are subjugated in this world, we conclude that humanity has a long way to go seeing clearly "the rights of woman acknowledged morally, civilly, and socially." Yet we all know of women who, even when dominated physically, have used their tender qualities of love to save and nourish families, and who have given strength to others in times of adversity. These caring, sustaining qualities are referred to frequently in the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings. For example, Science and Health states, "A mother's affection cannot be weaned from her child, because the mother-love includes purity and constancy, both of which are immortal" (p. 60). Couldn't this be seen as an expression of the irrepressible care of God?

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