A childhood belief about sex

When I was younger, I used to think that when I masturbated that I was actually "having sex with myself". Since I am a Christian, I thought that having sex before marriage, even with myself, was sinning.
I worried for ages, and even debated telling my parents that I wasn't a virgin anymore. I worried terribly that my future husband would disown me when he found out that I wasn't a virgin.
Finally, when I was about 14, I discreetly asked my mother what she thought about it (through the old "my friend has this problem.." line, I'm sure she saw right through it, but it was way less embarrassing) and she told me to "tell my friend" it was totally natural and nothing to be ashamed of, and that "she" was definitely still a virgin.
I can't tell you what a relief that was.