A Gentle Woman with Unwavering Faith

     At Mrs. Chaffin's celebration of life service, the word "gentle" was used to describe Mrs. Chaffin and her family. As this posting will reveal, she was gentle, but in no way weak. 

      In the early 1970s, I met Bill Chaffin when he came as a supply preacher at our church in Ralston. He married our church's song leader, Patricia Morris, a life-long friend. Patricia’s first home had been on the same farm where my mother and I live in the Big Bend community.*

Patricia Morris and Bill Chaffin's Wedding
Reception at the Ralston Baptist Church
(from Gates Family Photograph Collection)

        Even though I met the whole Chaffin family during Bill and Patricia’s wedding, I became much better acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Chaffin and their two younger children, Jan and John, in the fall of 1974. We worshiped in the same church in Stillwater when I attended Oklahoma State University.

       Jan, a senior in elementary education, and I, a lowly freshman, became good friends. She provided me much appreciated rides to church, especially following Bible study and choir practice on Wednesday nights. We had some wonderful times that year with Jan and Jeanne Buckmaster. (Jan C. and Jan B. later became sisters-in-law. Jeanne and I were roommates in our sophomore years.) 

Jan with her husband, Ron, from their 2019
Christmas Card. Jan lived one year in Ralston
when she taught first grade during the 1975-1976
school term. 

       Mr. and Mrs. Chaffin agreed graciously with Jan’s invitation to provide lodging for me for a whole week in the summer of 1975, while I attended a music educator’s workshop on campus. The four of them, including John, their youngest son, welcomed me and showed me kindness-infused hospitality for the whole week.
       Jan's first teaching position was in the first grade at Ralston during the 1975-1976 school term. Upon Jan’s graduation and move to Ralston, her mother, Maxine Chaffin, and I became much closer. 

       During my sophomore through senior years at Oklahoma State, some of my favorite times were the prayers times that culminated Wednesday nights at Hillcrest Baptist Church. We had “three-cornered” prayer time at the end of each midweek Bible study. This was one of the few times during the week when I interacted with people out of my age group. Mrs. Chaffin often was one of my two prayer partners. She always attentively listened to my collegiate difficulties whether academic, relationship, or financially related. Mrs. Chaffin, with godly wisdom, prayed fervently for our other partner and me, refocusing us with a reminder of God’s sovereign will, love, and grace and its overwhelming impact on each concern. 

Maxine Chaffin - born August 1, 1922
Died February 6, 2020
published @
https://obituaries.stwnewspress.com

       Mrs. Chaffin and her husband lived out Paul’s testimonial phrases from Philippians 4:12-13 - I know how  to be abased, and I know how to abound….I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. These were brilliant, talented people who leaned into difficulties that arose in their lives. The only way this precious couple touched people’s lives for the furtherance of God’s kingdom work emanated directly from them living in the strength of the indwelling Christ. Those of us influenced by the gracious, quiet living of Frank and Maxine Chaffin viewed a couple at times in their lives hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; (taken from 2 Corinthians 4:8)

      As I reflected on the impact of Mrs. Chaffin’s life this week upon learning of her passing, Mrs. Chaffin’s unselfish, self-sacrificing love for her husband and children moved to the forefront of my mind. Her unwavering commitment to worship her Savior daily with her time with Him in His word compelled her to quiet, but faithful service to Him out of her profuse love for a merciful God full of loving-kindness.

      Those of us affected powerfully by the life led by Mrs. Chaffin can continue her mission work here on earth. Holding to an uncompromising devotion to God’s Word, propelled by our steadfast love of the Lord, may our heartfelt obedience, disregarding the cost, be our only goal, just as it was hers.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

*Other Links to Morris Family-Related Postings:

https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/11/when-cotton-was-king.html - about Patricia's father

https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2017/08/only-two-names-will-do.html - about my mother's relationship with Patricia's only brother

https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-spokes-must-be-connected-to.html - tribute following Patricia's brother's death

https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2019/03/armed-robbery-in-big-bend.html - Patricia's paternal great-grandpa's robbery in the Bend