I Need Help and advice and Comfort

by Steph
(CA)

After reading this article about dating and sex, i feel terrible. I've never had actual sex (the kind that leads to pregnancy). i've never done oral or anal sex either. my boyfriend and i have been dating for 3 months, known each other for over 2 years. usually the most we would do was i would touch his rear and he would touch my boobs and rear. but today we started petting each other "down there". we were wearing clothes though. we've never taken our clothes off and never will. but now i feel just TERRIBLE because i read the article on this site about dating and sex and according to it, we've had sexual intercourse. i've been saving myself for marriage all my life. but ever since i was a little girl i masturbated. i didn't know that masturbation wasn't being abstinent. i just feel so terrible now because i didn't KNOW that this stuff was considered intercourse and it feels so unfair that i didn't know. i've had this masturbation problem my whole life. My boyfriend and i talked about it and i told him about the article and we both feel terrible (he's a christian too and abstinent). we both feel heartbroken about this. we were just having some "fun" but got carried away. I really need wisdom, comfort, advice, and reassurance right now. i already prayed to God and asked for forgiveness and for a second chance and to help me be pure and still considered a virgin (cuz physically i am) i really need your help and advice. Please comment, I really need it. Thanks