Special
the story of the Unsinkable Daniel Cline
by
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If relationships rule, Daniel had the uncanny knack for finding them in some of the most unlikeliest of places. It might be miles from home on a family vacation or steps from home in a local establishment. No matter the distance or novelty, all were fodder for Daniel’s frolic and fun. He became, of sorts, our waymaker, opening doors closed by societal norms and enriching our lives through the interactions he backed us into. The first opportunity we had to see this way-making knack was on our family trip to the East Coast in 2005. When the Clines do a family road-trip, it must be understood that it will be long and the territory covered vast. Not only is the car packed to the gills, but the days as well. Relaxation is never part of the equation, only to see and to do. Our East Coast trip had stops in Washington DC, Rhode Island, Boston, Maine, the Berkshires, and Niagara Falls, and put 3,663 miles on our minivan. In order to afford family trips of such magnitude, we employed standby money-saving tactics: we all stayed in one room with double beds in hotels that were typically on the outskirts of cities, we made sure the hotel had a free breakfast and pool, we took full advantage of public transportation, and we only ate one meal out a day—often lunch, because it was cheaper than dinner. Several days into our vacation, we were employing the tactics. We had taken the subway into DC from one of the outer ring suburbs, Springfield, which was the last stop on the blue line. We arrived in DC after our hour commute with tickets in hand for a Capitol tour later that afternoon. With stomachs just beginning to growl, we prioritized lunch to ensure good attitudes on the tour. I had researched and found a nifty, but often untapped, restaurant in the basement of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Besides being just a short walk to the Capitol, it also was known for being inexpensive and family friendly—a winning Cline combination! But family friendly can mean many things to many different people. In Daniel’s mind, family friendly was all about the food and whether it was edible to his nine-year-old palette. And when it’s your one meal out a day, the stakes can’t get any higher. On Daniel’s quick perusal of the offerings, they seemed to be lacking. He was dismayed, and he was hungry. Both feelings registered on his face. So when our waitress, a beautiful soul named Lorna, got around to taking Daniel’s order, she read the situation perfectly. “Not seeing anything you like, honey?” She ventured. “How about I go get you a grilled cheese sandwich. Would you like that?” And just like that, Daniel flashed her his big old smile, and she knew she had hit her mark. Lorna was a mom, and she got it. She kept close to our table the rest of lunch, and we were able to extract a little of her story and tips for navigating DC with kids. And when Geoff went to pay the bill, there wasn’t a grill cheese sandwich on it. “It’s on the house, honey.” And Geoff flashed her his big old smile.
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About the Book
One Christmas night, homebound from the ice that made travel all but impossible, the Cline family cleared the dinner table of its festive reverie to unbox their new Settlers of Catan game. Colors were chosen, dice was tossed, and trash talking commenced. This was for bragging rights. As the game maxed at four players, Joy paired with youngest son, Daniel. With the game all but on the line, she turned to Daniel for his input on their next move…and then proceeded to follow her gut and make a different call. They lost. Had Joy followed Daniel’s advice, family bragging rights would have been theirs.
Special is the story of Daniel Cline, an autistic and mentally handicapped young man, who continues to defy expectations—Joy’s included. With poignant stories and difficult odds, he has triumphed over limitations and challenges with resilience and by God’s deliberate hand over his life.
About the Author
JOY CLINE is a mom to four pretty incredible young adults—Mary, Ben, Allison, and Daniel—and wife to Geoff, her better half. Above all, she’s a daughter of God who desires to be pliable in His hands for His higher good. One of those higher goods has been to elevate the disability community through her volunteer service with Special Olympics and the Bethel BUILD Alumni Buddies. Life with her special needs son, Daniel, has yielded defining lessons. While her obedience to surround herself with a team of prayer warriors and to surrender to God’s higher plans has made all the difference.
Joy is a proud Cornhusker, having graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a teaching degree in English and journalism. She has put her degree to good work as a teacher and homeschool administrator, earning an education all her own at students’ hands before turning to writing.