For example, if someone had cancer because he/she was a big smoker and/or alcoholic, and then the cancer killed that person, then the reason that person died was because they had cancer. Just a simple fact.

But does the "everything happens for a reason" theory apply to this. I don't think so. What if the son or daughter of this person was really close to their parent that just died? They would feel miserable and would have go through the rest of life without them.

Or does the "everything happens for a reason" apply here as well? Their parent just died so they can learn to go through more on their own.

Does all this make any sense at all?
When does the theory apply?
Anyone?